.s^. 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


IM 


lio 


12.5 


m  m 


12.2 


•«    126       1^ 
U     Hi 

^    1^    12.0 


1^    u 


1^ 


L25  III  1.4 


1 


1.6 


PhotograiJnc 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Instittit  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notes  tachniquas  at  bibliograpliiquas 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  p-.yf  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproducticn.  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


Colourad  covors/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I    Covars  damaged/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurAa  at/ou  palliculte 

Covar  titia  missing/ 

La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  maps/ 

Cartas  giographiquas  nn  coulaur 

Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

Colourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  %n  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  material/ 
RaliA  avac  d'antras  documents 


□    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  n«argin/ 

La  re  liure  serrAe  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  la  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

□    Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
Sf.  pear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainas  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissant  dans  la  taxte, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  «tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  «t6  filmias. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  meiileur  exempiaire 
qu'ii  lui  a  «t«  posaible  de  se  procurer,  les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vu9  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m«thode  normale  de  fiimage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagias 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculAes 


I     I   Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


y  I    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicoiories,  tachetAes  ou  piqudes 

□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachies 

EShowthrough/ 
Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  inAgale  de  i'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  supplimentaire 

□    Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


B    Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obsciircies  par  un  fauillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmies  i  nouveau  de  fapon  it 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


1 

8 

7 

V 

K 
d 

•I 
b 
ri 
ri 

IT 


0    Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantaires: 


Irregular  pisgination  :   [1]  -  xxii,  1-(4i  [25]  •  701  p. 


This  Item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 
lOX  14X  18X  22X 


13X 


26X 


30X 


16X 


J 


20X 


24X 


28X 


J 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  h«r«  Hm  bMn  raproducsd  thanks 
to  th«  ganarosity  of: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 
(Regional  History  Room) 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tfia  b«at  quality 
posaibia  eonaidaring  tha  condition  and  iagibiiity 
of  tha  originai  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  •pacifieationa. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  eovara  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impraa- 
sion,  or  tha  bacic  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  originai  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliuatratad  impraa- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iliuatratad  impraaalon. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aaeh  microflcha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  —»>( moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (maaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

Mapa,  platas,  charta,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  iarga  to  ba 
sntiraly  inciudad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  iaft  hand  cornar.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framas  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  dlagrama  iiluatrata  tha 
mathod: 


L'axampiaira  film«  fut  raproduit  grftca  d  la 
g4niroaiti  da: 

D.  B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 
(Regional  History  Room) 

Laa  imagaa  auh^antaa  ont  it*  raproduitaa  avac  la 
plua  grand  aoin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axampiaira  fiim«,  at  %n 
eonformit*  avac  laa  conditiona  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplalraa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
paplar  aat  !mprim4a  sont  fiimte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramlar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  dllluatration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  eaa.  Tous  laa  autraa  axamplalraa 
originaux  aont  filmia  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiira  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  dHlustration  at  m  tarminant  par 
la  darniira  paga  qui  comporta  una  taila 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  symbolaa  suh/anta  apparaltra  sur  la 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microflcha,  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbola  — ^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
aymbola  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa,  planchaa,  tablaaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atra 
filmia  i  daa  taux  da  rMuction  diffirants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  aat  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  saul  clichi,  ii  aat  fiimi  A  partir 
da  i'angia  supiriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  k  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  baa,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  nicaaaaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illuatrant  ia  mithoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I 


AMERICAN  ANGLER'S  BOOK. 


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»  M  o  R     •  ,.    t  D  I  T  I O  N . 


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MEMORIAL   EDITION. 


THE 


AMERICAN  ANGLER'S  BOOK: 


KHBRACINO 


%  natural  iisforjj  of  Spriing  gu^ 


AMD 


THE  ART  OF  TAKING  THEM. 


Wna  IMTllCOTIONS  IN 


FLY-FISHING,  FLY-MAKING,  AND  ROD-MAKINGj 
AND  DIRECTIONS  FOR  FISH-BREEDING. 


TO  WHICH  18  ADDID, 


DIES   PISCATOEI^; 

DESCRIBING   NOTKD   FISHING-PLACES,  AND  THE   PLEASURE   OP 
SOLITARY  FLY-FISHING. 


WITH  A  SUPPLEMENT, 

OONTAliONG  DESCB1PTI0N8  OF  SALMON  BIVEBS,  INLAND  TBOUT  FISHING,  ETC.,  ETC. 


By  THADDEUS  NOERIS. 


JlIujBttatiU  faitf)  HEtflttj  jEnijrabdtaa  on  QSooD. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PORTER  &  COATES. 


Knterod,  according  to  Act  of  Congrew,  in  tbe  year  1864,  by 

E.  H.  BUTLER  A  00. 

U.  the  a«k.,  Offlco  or  .he  DUtHct  Court  of  the  United  SUte..  ,n  and  for  the  «a.ter„  r«.tHc. 

of  Pennsylvania.  "m"^!!.! 


TBI 


FOLLOWING   PAQKS   ARE   DKDIOATBD 


to 


®t)t   Uttlt   Ciui 


or 


HOUSELESS    ANGLERS;" 


AKT)  TO 


-ALL  THAT  ABE  LOVKRS  OP  VIRTUE.  AND  I.AUE  TRUST  IN  PROVIDENCF 
AND  BE  QUIET,  AND  GO  A-A.VULING.- 


! 


TO  THE  READER. 


In  offering  this  book  for  the  perusal  of  those  who  may  feel  suffi- 
ceatly  interested  in  the  subject  to  read  works  on  Angling,  I  deem  it 
an  act  of  courtesy  to  say  a  few  words  in  explanation  of  the  motives 
which  prompted  me  to  commence,  and  then  drew  me  on  in  the  prose- 
cution  of  a  work  involving,  as  it  has  proved,  no  small  amount  of  time 
and  labor. 

Every  true  lover  of  angling-  knows  that  the  pleasure  it  brings  with 
It,  does  not  end  with  the  day's  sport;  that  besides  being  "a  calmer 
of  unquiet  thoughts,"  for  the  time,  it  impresses  happy  memories  on 
themmd;  and  he  looks  back  to  many  a  day,  and  many  a  scene,  as 
an  oam  by  the  wayside  in  the  rough  journey  of  life;  and  like  Dog- 
berry 8  friend  Verges,  "  he  will  be  talking"  when  he  finds  an  interest 
ed  hearer,  and  may  he  tempted,  as  the  author  of  these  pages  has 
been,  to  write  of  it. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  books  on  angling  by  British  authors, 
but  few  Amencan  works  on  the  subject  have  yet  been  offered  to  the 

(7) 


VIU 


TO    TUB    READER. 


reading  public;  and  this  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  we  are  an 
angling  people,  and  that  our  thousands  of  brooks,  creeks,  rivers,  lakes, 
bays,  and  inlets  abound  in  game-fish. 

The  best  informed  of  those  who  have  written  on  American  fishes, 
have  omitted  many  important  species,  and  treated  slightingly  of 
others  which  are  worthy  of  a  more  extended  notice.     Since  the  pub- 
lication of  Dr.  Bethune's  "  Walton,"  and  subsequently  Frank  For- 
ester's "  Fish  and  Fishing,"  sporting-fish  have  decreased  in  some 
parts  of  the  country  where  they  were  once  abundant.     In  the  mean 
while,  the  opening  of  new  lines  of  travel  has  brought  within  reach 
of  the  angler  many  teeming  waters  that  were  then  almost  inaccessible. 
With  a  view  of  filling  up  the  blank  left  by  my  predecessorn,  of 
correcting  some  erroneous  ideas  that  have  been  imparted,  not  only 
concerning  fish,  but  the  adaptation  of  English  rules  and  theories, 
without  qualification,  to  our  waters;  and  with  the  object  of  making 
the  angler  self-reliant,  and  to  encourage  him  as  much  as  possible  to 
make  the  best  of  such  resources  as  may  be  within  his  reach,  espe- 
cially as  regards  his  tackle,  I  have  devoted  many  spare  hours  to  the 
following  pages ;  in  writing  which,  to  uae  the  words  of  Isaac  Walton, 
"  I  have  made  a  r€cr(jation  of  a  recreation  ;"  and  as  reminiscences  of 
my  boyhood  or  maturer  years  have  come  back  to  me,  and  the  mood 
was  on  me,  I  have  at  times  indulged  my  sense  of  the  ludicrous  or  the 
ridiculous ;  and,  again  adopting  the  words  of  Walton  in  his  address 
to  his  readers,  "  I  have  in  several  places  mixed  not  any  scurrility,  but 
some  innocent  harmless  mirth,  of  which,  if  thou  be  a  severe  sour- 
oomplexioned  man,  then  I  here  disallow  thee  to  be  a  competent  judge, 
for  divines  say  there  are  offences  given  and  offences  not  given,  but 
offences  taken."     But  I  am  sanguine  enough  to  hope  that  my  simple 
narrations  or  allusions  to  such  incidents  will  touch  a  chord  of  sym- 
pathy in  the  breasts  of  good-natured  readers  "  who  love  to  be  quiet 
and  go  a-angling  " 

I  had  collected  most  of  the  matter  contained  in  this  book— much 
of  it  as  the  reader  finds  it,  but  a  greater  portion  in  rough  notes— 
when  the  present  unhappj  rebellion  broke  out.  I  then  thought  it 
doubtful  whether  the  following  pages  would  ever  be  printed,  but 


TO   THB    READER. 


IX 


some  of  my  angling  friends,  one  or  two  of  whom  had  read  parts  of 
my  manuscript,  urged  me  to  publish,  and  overcame  my  scruples  as 
to  my  short-comings  as  a  writer,  for  I  profess  to  be  only  an  angler. 
One  of  these,  who  regards  the  author  and  his  project  perhaps  in  too 
favorable  a  light,  addressed  me  a  letter  on  the  subject.  I  conceive  it 
to  be  so  strong  an  argument  in  favor  of  angling,  and  so  much  more 
to  the  point  than  I  could  express  it  myself,  that  I  insert  it  here. 

My  Deae  Friend  :  Several  times  you  have  told  me  that  you  entertained 
the  idea  of  writing  a  treatise  on  angling.  Let  me  beg  of  you  not  to  suffer 
this  "  good  intention"  to  be  turned  into  a  paving-stone  for  that  locality  into 
which  all  unfulfilled  good  intentions  are  dumped  for  cobble. 

I  feel  great  confidence  that  if  you  can  impart  to  beginners  but  a  share 
of  the  practical  knowledge  and  insight  of  the  gentle  craft  which  you  have 
obtained  by  years  of  patient,  observant,  and  appreciative  practice,  or  can 
imbue  them  with  a  part  of  that  genuine  love  for  the  sport  which  has  grown 
into  and  with  you,  then  you  will  be  doing  the  youth  of  our  country  a  real 
service. 

Perhaps  few  people  claiming  to  be  civilized  have  greater  need  than  we 
Americans  to  be  taught  the  necessity  of  innocent  out-door  recreations,  for 
the  healthy  development  of  mind,  body,  and  spirit.  To  the  struggle  for 
wealth,  and  place,  and  fame,  we  devote  such  unremitting  ardor,  that  we 
are  too  apt  to  overlook  the  simple  and  innocent  joys  which  a  kind  Father 
has  so  bountifully  placed  within  our  easy  reach ;  by  neglecting  which,  we 
miss  the  natural  means  for  renewing  the  spring  of  life,  and  keeping  fresh 
and  green  in  our  memories  the  happy  days  of  boyhood. 

I  have  ever  felt  grateful  that  as  a  boy  I  imbibed  a  love  for  angling,  for 
in  my  maturer  years  it  continues  to  afford  me  a  keener  enjoyment  than 
any  other  recreation.  Nothing  has  survived  to  me  of  my  boyish  davs 
which  has  the  peculiar  abandon  and  charm  of  boyish  joy  like  this.  At 
each  returning  season,  when  the  warm  breath  of  spring  flushes  the  maples 
with  the  ruddy  glow  of  budding  leaves,  what  can  equal  the  angler's  de- 
light, as,  rigged  out  in  sober  woollen  suit  and  hob-nailed  wading  shoes, 
with  creel  o'er  his  shoulder  and  pliant  rod  in  his  grasp,  he  is  permitted  to 
revisit  the  bright  familiar  stream  (scene  of  his  former  triumphs),  to  listen 
to  the  music  of  its  flow,  and  to  try  once  more  if  his  right  hand  has  lost  its 
cunning,  or  his  flies  their  attraction. 

Though  I  have  always  loved  angling,  I  think  if  I  had  known  you  earlier 
I  should  have  loved  it  even  better.     I  realize  how  much  I  have  learned 


TO   THE   READER, 


from  you  m  the  few  years  we  have  fished  together,  and  I  look  back  with  a 
kmd  of  regret  t.   .t  I  did  not  have  the  benefit  of  your  kindly  teaching  ear- 

L  o  7  '  "'  "'"  '"  '''  *"'  '^^^  "'  *"««"«  in  hin..  comes  so  far 
«hort  of  the  enjoyment  he  could  have,  for  want  of  willing  and  faithful 
teaching  at  the  commencement,  from  those  whose  experience  and  skill 
are  above  his  own  Some  anglers  do  not  think  enough  of  their  duties  to 
^eir  juniors  in  this  respect.  I  reckon  among  the  chiefestof  your  qualities 
as  an  angler  the  piacere  sympathy  you  have  always  manifested  towards 
any  novice  who  showed  that  he  had  a  love  for  the  art.  and  your  willingness 
to  teach  to  sueh  what  you  knew.  Why  not  manifest  this  on-a  mor!  ex- 
panded field,  and  speak  through  a  book  to  all  who  are  seeking  knowledge 
upon  angling,  and  are  disposed  to  avail  themselves  of  your  experience  ^ 

There  IS  one  department  of  the  school  for  anglers  in  which  I  think  you 
are  qualified  to  speak  e.  catke<Ira.  I  mean  the  mechanical;  if  you  will 
undertake  to  teach  what  you  know  upon  this  branch,  you  can  enable  an 
angler,  who  has  any  aptitude  for  mechanism  and  a  reasonable  facility  of 
manipulation,  to  manufacture  for  himself,  his  own  rod,  flies,  and  tackle,  of  a 
ti  service  and  effectiveness,  which  will  not  suffer  in  comparison 
w,th  those  to  be  procured  in  any  good  tackle-store  in  the  country.  No  one 
has  a  better  right  than  I  to  bear  this  testimony  to  your  handicraft,  for  my 
favorite  fly-rod  and  book  of  flies  are  the  product  of  your  skill 

We  have  a  good  many  fishermen  in  this  country,  and  too  few  anglevs  • 
weareapttovaluemoreaglutthanaquietday's  sport,  where  skill  and 
painstaking  will  reward  us  with  a  moderate  sufficiency.    Catching  fiJi 
not  necessarily  angling,  any  more  than  daubing  canvas  with  paint  is  pll 

It  'T  r^'  ''"  ""''  "^^^  ""'''  ^'^'"^  -^  ^  *^«  attainmen  of  t 
truer  and  juster  perception  of  the  delights  and  uses  of  angling  ;  and  aid 
your  reader,   if  he  has  a  sympathetic  ^ul.   in  th.  a  tainmen    of  thlt 

sweet  content"  which  can  be  drawn  from  all  the  accessories  of  the  al 
and  the  beauties  of  nature  amid  which  it  is  practised 

I  say,  therefore,  write.  The  labor  will  not  only  pleasantly  recall  m;.ny 
scenes  of  your  piscatorial  experience,  and  memories  of  the  choice  spirite 
with  whom  you  have  taken  your  diversion,  but  will  make  you  to  be  re- 
a^embered  with  gratitude  by  those  to  whom  your  labor  of  love  will  brin« 
an  innocent  pleasure. 

Truly  your  friend  and  fellow-angler,  j 

Most  of  the  engravings  of  fish  in  this  book  are  from  nature      The 
marine  species,  Ibund  in  the  chapter  on  salt-water  fehing.  are  reduced 


TO   THE   READER. 


Zl 


copies  of  those  found  in  Dr.  Holbrook's  work.  The  vignettes  are  the 
production  of  the  pencil  of  a  good  brother  of  the  angle,  an  amateur, 
drawn  mostly  for  his  own  amusement  and  occasionally  for  mine  ae 
the  subjects  have  been  presented  to  his  appreciative  eye  during  the 
last  ten  or  twelve  years.  Many  of  them  are  his  earlier  sketche"  He 
has  expressed  an  unwillingness  that  I  should  reproduce  them,  after 
finding  that  I  was  in  earnest  in  doing  so  in  this  work ;  but  I  have,  in 
most  cases,  so  intimately  associated  them  with  the  subjects  or  topics 
to  which  they  serve  as  vignettes,  that  I  cannot  oblige  him  by  relin- 
quishing  my  purpose. 

Most  of  the  tackle  and  diagrams,  and  a  few  of  the  fish,  were  drawn 
by  the  writer;  I  confess  with  some  labor,  for  they  are  purely 
mechanical  productions. 

All  of  the  drawings  on  wood,  with  the  exception  of  the  plate  of 
hooks  and  Salmon-flies  by  Mr.  Wilhelm,  are  by  D.  Gordon  Yates,  of 
this  city,  and  were  cut  by  himself  or  under  his  supervision. 

I  have  received  so  many  useful  hints  from  Dr.  Bethune's  notes  to 
his  edition  of  Walton,  and  from  English  works  on  angling  during  the 
laat  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  that  I  am  at  a  loss  to  whom  to  accredit 
any  particular  item  of  information ;  having  so  entirely  appropriated 
such  knowledge,  and  stored  and  mingled  it  with  whatever  necessity 
and  some  aptness  of  my  own  has  taught  me,  as  to  consider  all  alike 
my  own  property. 

Tackle-making  I  have  learned  as  a  pleasant  recreation.  My  tactics 
and  rules  are  based  on  my  own  experience  and  upon  that  of  brethren 
of  the  rod  with  whom  I  have  angled.  So  also  is  my  knowledge  of 
fishing-grounds. 

Anglers  are  all  more  or  le3s  conceited,  or,  to  say  the  least,  self- 
opinioned,  and  I  may  at  times  have  given  directions  or  laid  down 
rules  contrary  to  the  views  or  practice  of  the  reader,  or  may  not  have 
expressed  myself  as  plainly  as  I  endeavored  to  do ;  but 

"  What  is  writ  is  writ ; 
Would  it  were  worthier," 

<^nd  I  only  ask  the  same  indulgence  of  opinion  I  am  willing  to  extend 
tc  those  whc  hold  opposite  notions. 


xu 


TO   THB   RBADBR. 


To  the  living,  with  whom  I  have  enjoyed  long  days  of  unalloyed 
pleasure  in  boyhood,  by  the  dear  old  mill-pond,  and  in  manhood  by 
the  mountain  stream,  on  the  sylvan  lake,  or  within  sound  of  » the 
warning  off  the  lee  shore,  speaking  in  breakers,"  I  send  these  pagen 
as  a  reminder  of  the  past.  In  reference  to  those  who  are  no  more  on 
earth,  I  quote  as  applicable  those  simply  beautiful  lines  of  Walton, 
and  say  that  my  allusion  to  some  of  the  incidents  herein  contained, 
"  is,  or  rather  was,  a  picture  of  my  own  disposition,  especially  in  such 
days  as  I  have  laid  aside  business,  and  gone  a-flshing  with  honest  Nat 
and  R.  Roe ;  but  they  are  gone,  and  with  them  moat  of  my  pleasant 
hours,  oven  as  a  shadow  that  passeth  awav  and  returneth  not." 


CONTENTS. 


Adorbss  to  tee  Riadis 


Pages 


CHAPTER   I. 


ANGLING. 

after  mfluence  on  ma»hood.-Its  social  tendency. -What  and  Who 
Thr^  Tl""'!'''""*  '"''  of  Anglers.-The  Snob  Angler.- 
IdRerA  7  7'''^  Spick-and-span  An,ler.-The  Lgh- 
«.d-ReadyAnger^The  Literary  Angler.-The  Shad-roe  Fisher- 
»an.-The  English  Admiral,  an  Angler.-The  True  Angler 


27 


CHAPTER    IT. 

GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  FISH. 

''tr^Tl'T  "'  "f  ^"  ereation.-Nature,l  .ode  of  propag. 
^on.--HabUs  as  regards  maternity.-Migration.-Vitality-E,- 
ternal  organs-Internal  organi,ation.-Ichthyology  '*  3, 


CHAPTER    III. 

TACKLE  IN  GENERAL. 
Hooks. —Sinkers.  — Swivels —«iif       t„j  a       , 

ileel-.-Rods.-Bow  I^;^    '"*'7^^";^^"7«-°^--^-- 

(13) 


63 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  PEROH  FAMILY — PEROIDJ!, 
General  Remarks  on  the  Percidae.— Great  number  of  American 
genera  and  species.— Paucity  of  European  species.— Distinguish- 
ing marks.— Their  abundance  and  variety  in  the  Valley  of  the 
Mississippi.- Migratory  habits.— 'Che  Rockfish  or  Striped  Bass, 
Labrax  lineatua.  Rockfish  Tackle.  Rock-fishing  on  the  lower 
Rappahannock.— The  White  Perch,  Lahrax  pallidtis.  Perch-fish- 
ing.— The  White  Bass  of  the  Lakes,  Labrax  albtdua.  White  Bass 
taken  with  the  artificial  fly.— Fresh  water  Bass  of  the  South  and 
West,  Oryatea  aalmoidea.  Bass-fishing.  Bass  Fly-fishing,— Black 
Bass  of  the  Lakes,  Gryatea  nigricana.  Trolling  for  Black  Bass  with 
spoon,  and  with  artificial  flies —The  Striped  Bass  of  the  Ohio, 
TMbrax  cArysop*.— The  Short  Striped  Bass.— Oswego  Bass.— The 
Grapple  or  Sao-a-lai,  Pomoxia  hexacanthua. —The  Yellow  Barred 
Perch,  Percajlaveacena.— The  Sunfibh  or  Sunny,  Pomotia  vulgaria.— 
Bream,  Ichthylia  rubricvnda.  Bream-fishing  on  Bayou  La  Branch.— 
The  Pike  Perch  or  Ohio  Salmon,  Lucioperca  Americana.— Thtt 
Buffalo  Perch,  Ablodon  gruwiena 


77 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE  PIKE  FAMILY — ESOOIDJI. 

Remarks  on  the  Pike   Family.— Mascalonge  pictured  by  Cuvier,— 

European   species.— American  species.- The  Garfish;  manner  of 

taking  it.— Dr.  Bethune's  remarks  on  Pikes.— Their  introduction 

into  England.— Pliny's  Pike.— Gesner's  Pike.— The  Great  Lake 

Pickerel,  Eaox  lucioi/lea.    Trolling  from  a  boat  for  Pickerel. The 

Mascalonge,  Esox  estor.  Angling  for  Mascalonge.— The  Pond 
Pike,  Eaox  reticulatua.  Pike-fishing.  Trolling  for  Pike  with  the 
gorge-hook.  Pike-fishing  in  Eastern  Virginia.— The  Great  Blue 
Pike.—The  Little  Pike  of  Long  Island.— The  Streaked  Pike  of  the 
Ohio.     Story  told  about  a  Pike  taken  in  the  Kanawha   .        .        .12'; 


CHAPTER    VT. 

THE   CARP   FAMILY — CYPRINIl)^, 
Remarks  on  the  Cyprinidas.— The  Sucker,   Catosiomua  communu,— 
Buffalo  Fish,  Catosiomua  bubalus.     Buffalo  Fish  as  an  article  of 


I 


CONTENTS. 


X7 


77 


diet— The  Chub  or  FalIfi8h,iL<«two;«iwrAo/Ae««,  Errors  of  Ameri- 
can writers  in  regard  to  the  size  of  the  Chub.  Chub  an  annoyance 
to  fly-fishers.  Chub-fishing  on  the  Brandywine.  Umbrella  invented 
by  a  Chub  Fisherman.— Roach,  and  Roach-fishing  .        .        .155 

CHAPTER   VII. 

THE  HERRING  FAl.ILY— OLUPEID^. 
Remarks  on  the  Herring  Family,  from  the  "  Iconographio  Encyclo- 
poBdia."  Their  abundance  in  the  waters  of  the  United  States. 
Great  numbers  of  them  taken  in  the  Potomac.  Herring-fishing 
with  the  artificial  fly.-the  Shad,  Alosa  prasatabilia.  Its  delicacy 
and  value  as  food.  Migratory  habits.  Shad  taken  with  the  min- 
now.    Shad-roe  as  bait jg. 

CHAPTER   VIIL 

CATFISH  AND  EELS. 
Catfish,  SUuridce.  Extract  from  Iconographio  Encyclopjedia.  Catr 
fish  of  the  Atlantic  States  and  Western  waters.— Eels.  Observations 
on  the  PetromyzoHiidcB  (Lamprey  Eels),  on  the  Murainida:  (Common 
Eels),  and  on  the  Oymnotidas  (Electric  Eels)._The  Common  Eel 
Anguilla  vulgaris.  Fishing  for  Eels.  Migratory  habits.  Young 
Eels  as  bait.    Eels  not  hermaphrodites    .....  177 

CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  SALMON  FAMILY.— SALMONIDJS. 
Remarks  on  the  Salmonid»._The  Brook  Trout.  Scientific  descrip- 
tion. Habits  and  manner  of  breeding.  Growth.  Difference  in 
size  between  Trout  of  still  waters  and  those  of  brisk  streams 
Effect  of  light  and  shade,  and  bright  or  dark  water,  on  the  color 
of  Trout.  Errors  as  regards  new  species.  Food  of  the  Trout.  Its 
greediness.  Its  geographical  range.  Former  abundance  and  causes 
of  decrease.  Size  of  Trout  in  the  regions  of  Lake  Superior  and 
State  of  Maine.  Size  in  the  preserved  watefs  of  England,  and  size 
the  angler  is  restricted  to  in  rented  waters—The  Salmon.  Former 
abundance  in  the  rivers  of  New  York  and  (l.o  Eastern  States. 
Great  numbers  in  California,   Oregon,   and   British   Possession*. 


xn 


CONTENTS. 


Doclinft  of  the  Salmon-flsherics  in  British  Provinoes.     Scientific 
description.    Natural  process  of  propagation.    Their  growth.    Parr, 
Smolt,  and  Grilse.     Mature  Salmon.     Size  of  Salmon.     Instinct. 
Restocking  depleted  rivers,  and  introducing  Salmon  into  new  waters. 
Their  migration  from  sea  to  fresh  rirers,  and  gradual  preparation 
for  their  change  of  habitat.   Salmon-leaps.   Food  of  Salmon  at  sea.— 
The  Canadian  Trout,  or  Sea  Trout,  Scdmo  Canadenaia.    Error  in 
referring  it  to  the  species  Salmo  trutta  of  Europe ;  their  dissimilar- 
ity.    Its  affinity  to  Salino  fontinalu  (Brook  Trout).     Sea-Trout 
fishing  in  the  Tabbisintac.   Mr.  Perley's  and  Dr.  Adamson's  account 
of  Sea-Trout  fishing.     Their  abundance  in  the  rivers  falling  into 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  annoyance  to  Salmon-fishers.— The 
Schoodio  Trout,  or  Dwarf  Salmon  of  the  St.  Croix,  Salmo  Oloveri. 
Account  of  three  summers'  fishing  in  the  Schoodio  Lakes.— The 
Groat  Lake  Trout,  Salmo  namaycush.     Manner  of  taking  them.— 
The  Lesser  Lake  Trout,  Salmo  Adirondacua.     Trolling  for  Lake 
Trout.— Back's  Grayling,   Thymallua  aigntfer.    Dr.  Richardson's 
remarks  on  the  Grayling.— The  Smelt,  Oamema  viridiacena.     Their 
great  numbers  along  the  northern  part  of  our  coast.     Smelt  in  the 
Schuylkill.     Quantity  sent  south  from  Boston.     Smelt  used  as  a 
fertilizer.— The  Capelin,   Mallotua  w//o«m».— The  Whitefish,    Co- 
regonua  albua.—Tcout  Bait-fishing igj 

CHAPTER   X. 

SALT-WATER  PISH  AND  FISHING. 
Introductory  Remarks.— The  Sheepshead.- The  Weakfish,  or  Salt- 
Water  Trout— The  Barb,  or  Kingfish.- The  Spot,  Pigfisb,  or 
Goody.— The  Croaker.— The  Redfish  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.— The 
Bluefish,  or  Snapping  Mackerel.- The  Spanish  Mackerel.— The 
Pompano  (Southern).— The  Drumfish.— The  Flounder.— The  Sear 
Bass.— The  Blackfish.— The  Mullet.— The  Tom  Cod,  or  Frostfish.— 
The  Porgy       .        . £77 


CHAPTER   XL 

TROUT  PLY-FISHING.— OUTFIT   AND  TACKLE. 

Wading-Jacket.— Trousers.— Boots.-Creel  or  Basket.- Landing-Net. 
—Rods.— Reels— LJnes.-Leaders.-Flies.-The  Whip  .        .  30S 


00NTBNT8. 


zvu 


CHAPTER   XII. 

TROUT  PLY-FISHINO.— THE  STBBAM. 
Casting  tho  Fly.—Theory  of  strict  imitation.—Striking  and  killing  a 
Fish.— Likely  places,  how  to  fish  them 327 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

SALMON-PISHINO. 

Tackle  used  in  Salmon-Fishing.-Rods.-Reels.-Reel-lines.-Cast- 
ing-line8.-Salmon-fiie8.-Matorial8  required  for  Salmon-flies  for 
American  rivers.-Salmon-flies  for  the  rivers  of  New  Brunswick 
and  Canada—Theory  and  practice  of  Salmon-fishing.-Salmon- 
fishing  compared  with  Trout^flshing—Casting  the  fly.-The  straightr 
forward  cast,  casting  over  the  loft  shoulder,  casting  in  difficult 
places,  explained  by  diagrams—Casting  in  an  unfavorable  wind— 
Striking.-PIaylng  a  Salmon— What  a  Salmon  will  do  or  may  do- 
Gaffing— Camping   on    the    river.-Camp  equipage.-Proteotion 
agamst  mosquitoes,  black-flies,  and  midges— Clothing,  Ac-Cook- 
ing  uten8ils.-Store8.-Co«,king  Salmon  on  the  river.-To  boil  a 
Salmon— To  broil  a  Salmon— Cold  Salmon— Soused  Salmon.- 
To  bake  or  steam  a  Grilse  under  the  coals  and  ashes.-Kippered 
Salmon— Smoked  Salmon.-Law  and  Custom  on  the  river     .        .  345 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
SALMON-RIVERS  OP  THE  BRITISH  PROVINCES. 
Salmon-rivers  of  Lower  Canada-Salmon-rivers  emptying  into  or 
tributary  to  rivers  flowing  int«  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Bay 
of  Chaleurs— Salmon-rivers  of   New   Brunswick,   and   those  of 

Canadaadjacent— Mirimichi.-Ri8tigouche.-Metapediac— Cas- 
oapediaes— Bonaventure— Tittigouchc-Nipissiguit     .        .        .379 


CHAPTER   XV. 
REPAIRS,   KNOTS,   LOOPS,   AND  RECEIPTS. 
Repairn— To  wax  silk,  thread,  or  twine— Tying  on  hooks  and  making 
loops,  illustrated.-Splicing  a  line  and  splicing  a  rod,  illustrated.- 
Knots— The  angler's  single  and  double  knot,  and  knot  used  in 

2 


XVIU 


OONTBNTB. 


tying  on  drop-fliea,  WMntfld.— A  gang  of  hooka,  illustrated.— 
Receipts. — For  making  wax. — For  dyeing  gut. — For  dyeinp^  feather* 
and  flubbing 405 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

PLY-MAKINO. 

ImplemontB.— Hand-Vice,  Spring-Pliers,  Ac— Book  for  holding  mate- 
rials.—Materials.— Hooks.— Out.— Tinsel.— Dubbing.— Hackles.— 
Wings.- To  tie  a  plain  Hackle.— To  tie  a  Palmer.— To  make  a  fl.v 
with  wings ,  419 

CHAPTER    XVII. 
BOD-MAKINO. 

Woods  used  in  making  rods. — Wood  and  Malacca  cane  for  fly-rods. — 
Materials  used  by  amateur  rod-makers. — To  make  a  fly-rod  of  three 
pieces. — To  make  a  tip. — To  stain  a  rod. — Oiling  and  varnishing.  — 
Wrapping  splices  and  putting  on  rings. — To  make  a  "  rent  and 
glued,"  or  quarter- sectioned  tip. — Draw-plate  and  V  tool  illustrated 
and  explained. — Manner  of  splitting  cane  and  joining  the  pieces  of 
a  quarter-sectioned  tip  described  by  diagram. — Making  middle 
pieces  and  tips  without  splices. — Manner  of  making  a  fly-rod  to  be 
adjusted  to  light  or  heavy  fishing. — Ferule-making         .        ,        ,  441 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


FISH-BREEDIMQ. 


Causes  of  the  decreaso  if  Salmon  and  Trout. — ii.'iriiirkrt  on  fish-pond^ 
and  the  manner  of  stocking  them. — Artif  cinl  f'sh  Huuding — with 
illustrations,  showing  the  manner  of  expressing  the  ova  and  milt, 
tlie  arrangement  of  hatching-troughs,  and  the  growth  of  the  fish  ; 
from  "  A  Complete  Treatise  on  Artificial  Fish-Breeding,"  by  W.  H. 
Fry,  Esq.,  with  some  remarks  of  the  author  of  this  work. — The 
>i(«uarium — its  appropriate  size  and  form,  and  manner  of  stocking 
it  with  fish  and  introducing  suitable  aquatic  plants         .        .         ,  459 


00NTKNT8. 


xix 


DIES   PISCATOKI^. 

Thi  "  HousiLBss  Anglim" 

Tm  Noonday  Roast 

Firnt  Nooning— Trout-flshing  in  Hamilton  County,  Now  York 
Second  Nooning— Trout-fishing  in  New  llampuhire 
Third  Noon  in-— Trout-fishing  in  the  regions  of  Lake  Supe 
Fourth  Nooning— Trout-tishing  in  the  Adirondacks 

Flv--Fi8hino  Aloni    . 

•        »        •         .        « 

The  Angler's  Sabbatm      .... 
Conclusion 


Page  480 
.  497 
50.3 
513 
531 
647 
067 
689 
600 


nor 


SUPPLEMENT. 

Address  to  Readers  .        ,        ,        ,        ,        ,  ana 

Salmon  Rivers ^  gnw 

Oeographioftl  position ^         _  qq-j  gQg 

Salm.m-fishing  in  Canada.— Tho  Ooodbout,  Mii  ^-an  and  Mani- 

tou,  Moisie,  St.  John,  Natashquan,  St.  Mnvgar.     Laval,  Jaques      . 

Cartier,  Trinity,   St.  Margaret   (e«  bos),  Ber.  aiis,  Romaine 

600,  610 
Account  of  Salmon-fishing  in  the  St.  John,  Goo    )out,  Moisie, 
Nipissiguit,  Mingan,  and  Manitou,  in  186;i       .        .        .  611,  612 

"All  about  Fishing"    ...                                             '         '  «io 
"  ol3 

Salmon-fishing  on  the  River  St.  John,  C.  E.-Journal  of  a  trip  to 

the  St.  John  in  1863 g,^ 

The  Moisie.— Score  of  Three  Rods  in  1862  and  1863           .        .  626 
The  Goodbout.— Score  of  Three  Rods  in  1864      .        .        .        .628 
The  Great  Natnshqunn.— Journal  of  Dr.  Fiske    .         .         .         .629 
Tho  Nipissiguit.— Journal  of  the  Author  in  the  years  1863  and 
'"•* 632 


XX 


CONTENTS. 


Sea-Trout  Fishing 649 

Description  of  the  Sea-Trout.— Frank  Forester's  and  Mr.  Perley's 

account  of,  reviewed 649 

Rivers  and  stations  where  found  .        .        .        .        .        .  653 

Inland  Trout  Fishing 654 

Journal  of  an  excursion  to  Lakes  Umbagog  and  MoUyohunke- 

munk,  in  1864 654 

r- 1    Trout-fishing  in  the  Adirondacks 668 

The  true  spirit  of  Trout-fishing 669 

Striped  Bass  Fishing 671 

The  "  mode  peculiar."— Where  to  Ssh,  and  the  tackle  to  be  used 

671,  672 
Fish  Breeding 

Natural  and  artificial  breeding  of  Trout 
Observations  on  the  manner  of  fecundation 
Stocking  Trout-ponds  on  Long  Island  . 
Stocking  ponds  and  lakelets  with  Black  Bass 
Prof.  Agnel's  experiment     .... 
Conclusion 


677 

677 
683 
686 
688 
689 
692 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PRONTISPIBCB— VIEW  OF  THE  GRAND  PALLS  ON  THE  NIPISSI- 

GUIT,  From  a  Photograph  bt  Russkl,  of  St.  Johb,  N.  B. 
RIVER  SCENE p^^^  5 

HALACOPTERYGII  AND  ACANTH0PTERYGII-P08ITI0N  OF  FINS 

IN  THE  TWO  ORDERS       .....  s» 

POSITION  OF  TEETH  AND  GILL-COVERS 
HOOKS  AND  SWIVELS 
R0CKPI8H,  OR  STRIPED  BASS       . 
UNCLE  ROLLY    . 

WHITE  PERCH.— GRAY  PERCH     . 
FRESH-WATER  BASS  OF  THE  SOUTH  AND  WEST 
BLACK  BASS  OP  THE  NORTHERN  LAKES 
ORAPPIE,  OR  SAC-A-LAI 
YELLOW-BARRED  PERCH  . 
SUNFISH,  OR  SUNNY    .... 
FISHING  FOR  SUNNIES      . 
GREAT  NORTHERN  LAKE  PICKEREL 
CANADIAN  BOATMAN 

MASCALONGE 

POND  PIKE  .... 

GORGE-HOOK       ..... 
THE  MAJOR 

•  •  • 

THE  HOSTLER  TELLING  A  PISH  STORY       . 
THE  CHUB-FISHER'S  IMPROVED  UMBRELLA 
GIRL  FISHING  FOR  ROACH     .... 

(«i) 


• 

ERS 

• 

8' 

• 

■• 

.   89 
90 

ST  . 

.   99 
108 

• 

.  Ill 
114 

.  • 

,  116 

iir 

• 
•         1 

131 

134 

• 
•          « 

136 
138 

•          • 

•     * 

139 
146 

• 

160 

• 

.     . 

160 

, 

162 

xzu 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTP.ATIONS. 


BROOK  TROUT 

SALMON 

•  •  •  • 

GROWTH  OF  THE  YOUNG  SALMON 
SALMON-PRY.— PINK  AND  SMOLT      . 
GUIDE 

•  •  • 

GREAT  LAKE  TROUT  . 

LESSER  LAKE  TROUT 

GANG  OP  HOOKS,  BAITED 

SMELT     .... 

CHILDREN  ON  A  TROUT  STREAM       . 

SHEEPSHBAD 

WEAK-FISH         .  .  . 

BARB  OR  KINGFISH 

SPOT,  PIGFI8H,  OR  GOODY      . 

CROAKER      .... 

REDPISH  OF  THE  GULF  OP  MEXICO 

BLUEFISH  OR  SNAPPING  MACKEREL 

SPANISH  MACKEREL    . 

POMPANO.— CRBVALLB       . 

BOAT 

TROUT-FLIES  .  .  .  , 

LANDING-NETS  FOR  FLY-FISHING     . 

HEAD  OF  A  TROUT 

THE  OLD  SPRING  BY  THE  ROADSIDE 

REEL  FOR  SALMON-FISHING 

SALMON-FLIES 

RIGHT  AND  LEFT-SHOULDERED,  AND  D 

BARK-PEELER'S  HORSE  AND  STABLE 

CANOEMAN 

TYING  ON  HOOKS  AND  LOOPS 

SPLICING  LINE  AND  ROD 

KNOTS     . 

•  •  • 

GANG 

•  •  t 

SETTLER'S  CABIN 

PIN-VICE  AND  SPRING  PLIERS   . 

FLY-MAKING      .... 

FEATHER  CUT  FOR  WINGS 
"PLEASE,  SIR,  GIVE  ME  A  FLY-HOOK?" 


FAOB 

194 

.  205 

•        •      • 

224 

.  227 

247 

.  249 

255 

.  258 

288 

.  274 

280 

.  283 

28A 

.  289 

391 

.  293 

294 

.  290 

298 

.  802 

806 

.  807 

826 

.  842 

*          *          • 

848 

.  353 

FICULT  CASTING 

362 

.  376 

*           *           • 

402 

.  406 

»           •           , 

408 

.  409 

*           •           • 

409 

.  41(1 

*           •           • 

420 

.  429 

*          •           • 

434 

.  438 

mmnitm 


^iritoilMMiii 


«i  li  111 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIOyS. 


ZXlll 


ROD-MAKING— V  TOOL  AND  DRAW-PLATB 

MAKING  QUARTER-SECTIONED  TIPS 
MALACCA  CANE     . 
FISH-BREEDING— HATCHING  TROUGHS 
'         EXPRESSING  THE  SPAWN 
OVA  AND  YOUNG  SALMON    . 

SCIENTIFIC  ANGLING 

SAW-MILL  ON  TROUT  STREAM 

AFTER  THE  ROAST 

"  THEE  MUSN'T  GO  THROUGH  THAT  RYE  !" 

A  THIEF'S  PORTRAIT 

UNCLE  LOT         .... 

BLACKSMITH'S  BOY 

DISCUSSING  THE  DRAFT 

OFF  FOR  A  DEER  DRIVE 

WATCHING  FOR  DEER 

STONE  THROWER    . 

SAND-PIPERS     . 

RIVBR  80BNB 

THE  ST.  LAWRENCE,  QUEBEC,  AND  CITADEL 

ST.  JOHN,  N.  B.        . 

THE  8AGUENAY 

THE  TROUT  POOL  .... 


PAOB 

449 
.  450 
461 
,  468 
469 
477 
482 
404 
600 
610 
628 
644 
662 
664 
660 
664 
676 
6f 

e  . 

649 
662 
664 


<'ii  ■iwli.iiriM*uMMii%MaMM 


■"MBmMmmpih 


m  MEMORIAM. 


The  guild  of  anglers  has  lost  a  master  of  the  gentle  art 
Thaddeus  Norris,  of  Philadelphia,  widely  known  throughout  the 
country  as  a  teacher  and  authority  on  fish  and  angling,  has  passed 
away.  Suddenly  but  painlessly  he  fell  into  his  final  rest  on  the 
11th  of  April,  1877,  at  his  home  in  this  city. 

To  those  who  enjoyed   intimate   companionship  with  him  no 
words  the  writer  can  pen  are  needed  to  keep  his  memory  green; 
still,  a  duty  remains  to  outline,  however  feebly,  some  of  the  ch  J 
racteristics  of  an  angler   whom   Walton  would  have  loved  as 
a  kindred  spirit.     To  attempt  to  furnish  even  a  brief  record  of 
the  events  of  his  life  is  not  the  writer's  purpose.     It  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  notice  that  he  was  born  near  Warrenton,  in  Virginia, 
in  1811,  and  at  an  early  age  he  removed  tb  Philadelphia,  which 
was  his  home  for  the  rest  of  his  life.    He  acquired,  as  a  boy 
a  love  for  fishing;  but,  to  quote  his  own  words,  he  "never  became 
an  angler  until  he  ceased   to  trust  in  the  flesh"— that  is,  had 
abandoned  the  bait  and  learned  to  cast  the  fly.     But  this  latter 
art,  once  acquired,  became  a  delight  of  his  life;  and  an  experience 
of  over  thirty-five  years'  practice  as  a  fisherman  in  one  so  patient 
so  close  in  observation,  and  so  fair  in  his  conclusions  as  Mr.  Norris' 
gave  his  name  deserved  weight  with  naturalists  and  savans,  as  well 
as  anglers,  in  all  questions  touching  the  genera,  habitats  and  cha- 
ractenstics  of  fish,  as  well  as  the  best  methods  for  their  capture 

The  special  charm  in  Mr.  Norris  to  his  brother-anglers  was  his 
subtle  and  artistic  perception  of  all  that  is  poetical  and  beautiful 


IN    MEMORIAM. 


in  the  surroundings  of  the  angler  at  his  sport,  and  his  power  to 
portray  truthfully  and  impressively  the  comfort  and  delight  they 
imparted  to  his  own  physical  and  spiritual  being,  by  bringing  him 
into  the  closest  contact  with  the  wonderful  and  beautiful  creations 
which  the  great  Maker  and  Builder  hath  wrought  in  His  handi- 
work which  we  call  Nature.    To  some  men  life  in  the  woods  and 
by  the  stream  is  a  kind  of  inspiration.     If  Thoreau  had  been  an 
angler,  he  would  have  been  one  after  the  heart  of  our  departed 
friend.     And  the  reader  of  Mr.  Norris's  miscellaneous  sketches  at 
the  conclusion  of  his  "  American  Angler's  Book,"  especially  the 
two  entitled  "Fly-Fishing  Alone"  and  "The  Angler's  Sabbath," 
will  in  some  measure  comprehend,  if  he  has  the  stuff  in  him 
whereof  the  true  angler  is  made,  how  closely  the  writer  of  them 
dwelt  to  Nature's  true  "  inwardness,"  and  how  keen  was  his  appre- 
ciation  of  the  secrets  which  the  woods  and  waters  reveal  to  those 
who  love  them. 

For  twenty  years  I  was  his  companion  in  many  of  his  excur- 
sions to  the  mountain- streams  for  trout  fishing,  and  while  in  ex- 
pertness,  perseverance  and  keen  relish  for  luring  the  wary  trout  to 
his  fly  he  had  few  superiors,  it  was  not  by  these  that  he  made  a 
trip  in  his  company  one  long  pleasure.    The  vista  down  the  stream 
underneath  o'erarching  boughs ;  the  sturdy  or  graceful  forms  of 
the  various  trees,  according  to  their  kind ;  the  exquisite  forms  of 
vegetable  life  as  shown  in  the  mosses,  ferns  and  lowly  growths  of 
the  forest  and  along  the  margin  of  the  stream  ;  the  aromatic  balm 
of  the  air,  laden  w^th  the  resinous  odors  of  spruce  and  hemlock  ; 
the  habits  of  birds  and  insects  ;  the  expressions  and  colors  of  the 
dawn  and  sunset;  the  changing  face  of  a  familiar  landscape  under 
varying  skies,  with  alternations  of  lights  and  shadows,— all  tJiese 
things  fed  his  soul  with  joy  and  moved  him  to  the  utterance  of 
devout  gratitude  to  God,  who  thus  opened  His  storehouse  of  won- 
ders and  beauties  to  all  His  children,  and  made  His  best  gifts  com- 
mon to  all  the  race. 

Possessing  great  mechanical  gifts,  he  was  led  on  little  by  little 


IN    MEMORIAM. 


to  essay  making  his  own  implements  for  his  spring  and  summer 
campaigns,  and  in  time  acquired  such  great  facility  and  such 
accurate  knowledge  of  the  best  materials  for  their  construction, 
that  his  rods  and  flies,  in  the  judgment  of  many  experts,  had  no 
superiors.  He  was  ever  full  of  sympathy  and  encouragement  fjr 
every  novice  in  angling  or  tackle-making  who  chose  to  appeal  to 
his  stores  of  useful  knowledge  for  suggestions  or  aid.  The  boy 
who  loved  to  go  a-fishing  always  found  the  soft  spot  in  his  heart ; 
•  and  his  love  for  children  was  as  remarkable  as  his  success  in  win- 
ning them  to  love  him.  He  ever  manifested  the  heartiest  sympa- 
thy and  respect  for  the  worthy  poor,  and  his  sudden  depai-ture 
will  be  mourned  in  many  a  lowly  home  where  the  dwellers  had 
had  their  burdens  lightened  and  their  hearts  cheered  by  a  friend 
whose  interest  in  their  welfare  they  knew  by  an  infallible  instinct 
was  genuine  and  sincere. 

Without  professing  any  ability  for  literary  work,  his  accurate 
knowledge  and  his  thorough  appreciation  of  the  subjects  of  which 
he  wrote,  enabled  him  to  produce  one  of  the  most  instructive  and 
entertaining  books  on  angling  which  has  ever  been  published, 
while  his  work  on  pisciculture  is  recognized  as  a  standard  author- 
ity on  a  subject  now  engaging  widespread  attention. 

His  experience  in  angling  was  wide  and  varied.  From  the 
lordly  salmon  to  the  smallest  member  of  the  finny  tribe,  he  had 
captured  many  varieties,  and  in  many  waters.  But  after  all  this 
experience  was  attained,  he  was  ever  ready  to  confess  that  his 
highest  enjoyment  from  the  sport  was  attained  by  an  excursion 
with  a  congenial  spirit  to  a  mountain  trout-stream  which  he  could 
wade,  and  along  which  he  could  wander  at  will,  taking  in  due 
season  his  "nooning"  and  rest  for  the  impromptu  dinner,  made  up 
in  good  part  from  the  morning  catch,  and  where  the  pipe  and 
sweet  discourse  which  followed  whiled  away  the  time  until  the 
afternoon  sun  lowered  to  the  proper  point  for  beginning  the  even- 
ing fishing,  which  was  protracted  into  the  gloaming:  this  was,  in 
his  opinion,  the  crown  of  the  angler's  delight.    How  often  hal  it 


IN    MEMORIAM. 


•Tr  t,T  ' ""  '^  *"  ™J°^  """  '«"=«  «'"■  1-i".  1  What 
full  of  knowledge  m  all  things  pert«m„g  ,„  ,he  er.ft,  What  a 
drol  raoomeurl  How  vividly  he  ocld  depict  the  .„u,i„g  „r 
grotoque  pomte  of  the  ,„ee,  people  he  had  met  I  how  full  of  fe^e 
.»d  »„g  and  story  I  and  withal  how  noble,  how  u„«lfch,  and  how 
warm-hearted  -  Dear  Uncle  Thad !  never  again  shall  we  take  our 
diversions  together,  or  revisit  the  scenes  of  our  former  exploits  by 
the  hmp,d  wate«  of  tl,e  mountain-streams,  where  our  frLdshil 
was  strengthened  to  a  true  brotherhood !  mendship 

^  But  if  this  feeble  tribute  to  thy  worth  and  admirable  qualities 
shal  help  to  lead  the  younger  band  of  enthusiastic  angle™" 
emuhtte  thy  example,  by  cultivating  the  habi,  of  so  usingThe^ 
wanden„gs,n  quest  of  recreation  that  they  shall  grow  in  useful 

andll*'; ;: ""'  *■":  °'  ""■"-"■'^  -"  '^■"'•v.  <»  •-  of  o^ 

and  thc.r  fellow-men,  then  it  is  «.  that  out  of  a  full  heart  these 
few  feeble  words  have  been  spoken. 

Joseph  B.  Townsekd. 

PHrtADELPHIA,  April,  1877. 


L_ 


What 
lources, 
Nhat  a 
jing  or 
'f  verse 
id  how 
ke  our 
oits  by 
udship 

lalitief) 
era  to 
their 
useful 
rOod 
these 


ND. 


CHAPTER  I. 
ANGLING 


"QoiTuma  fcan,  bewrt-tMring  can*, 
Anziout  itgh*,  untimely  taan, 

Jfly,  fly  to  court*, 

Vly  to  fond  worldlingi'  iporta, 
Whare  strained  Sardonic  iniilee  are  gtutin^  »tlU, 
And  griaf  ia  Ibroad  to  laugh  agalnat  l>ai  wlUj 

Where  mirth's  but  u.^.  jmery, 

And  sorrows  only  real  be. 

'fly  from  our  country  pastlmat,  I7, 
Bad  troopa  Pi'  hninan  miaary:— 

Come,  serene  looks, 

Clear  as  the  crystal  }•  ooss, 
Or  the  pure  asure«.'  heaven  that  smllea  to  m« 
The  rich  attendance  on  our  poverty; 

Peace,  and  a  secure  mind. 

Which  all  men  seek,  we  only  And." 

WALtOM. 


■MMkMMi 


■iMki 


CHAPTER  I. 
ANOLINO. 

ItR  hamoniilng  influences.— aocollections  of  Angling  in  boyhood,  its  after 
influence  on  manhood.— Its  sooial  tendency.— What  and  Who  is  an 
Angler?— Diff-erent  kinds  of  Anglers.- The  Snob  Angler.— The  Greedy 
Angler.- The  Spick-and-Span  Angler.— The  Rough-and-Ready  Angler. 
—The  Literary  Angler.— The  Shad-roe  Fisherman. -The  English  Ad- 
miral, an  Angler.— The  True  Angler. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  oflfer  any  remarks  on  the 
antiquity  of  Angling,  or  say  much  in  its  defence.  Dame 
Juliana  Berners.  Isaac  Walton,  and  more  recent  authors, 
have  discoursed  learnedly  on  its  origin,  and  defended  it 
wisely  and  valiantly  from  the  aspersions  and  ridicule  of 
those  who  cannot  appreciate  its  quiet  joys,  and  who  know 
not  the  solace  and  peace  it  brings  to  the  haras&id  mind, 
or  how  it  begets  and  fosters  contentment  and  a  love  of 
nature. 

I  ask  any  caviller  to  read  Dr.  Bethune's  Bibliographical 
Preface  to  his  edition  of  Walton;  and  then  Father  Izaak's 
address  to  the  readers  of  his  discourse,  "  but  especially  to 
THE  HONEST  ANGLEK,"  and  accompany  him  in  spirit,  as 
Bethune  does,  by  the  quiet  Lea,  or  Cotton  by  the  bright 
rippling  Dove;  and  if  he  be  not  convinced  of  the  blessed 
influences  of  the  "gentle  art,"  or  if  his  heart  is  not  warmed, 
or  no  recollections  of  his  boyish  days  come  back  to  him,  I 
give  him  up  without  a  harsh  word,  but  with  a  feeling  of 
regret,  that  a  lifetime  should  be  spent  without  attaining  so 
much  of  quiet  happiness  that  might  have  been  so  easily 

(27) 


28 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


possessed,  and  quoting  a  few  sad  >7ord8  from  Whittier's 
Maud  Muller,  I  only  say  '•'  it  might  have  been." 

Many  anglers,  such  as  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  and  Sir  Joshua 
Reynolds,  besides  some  of  my  own  acquaintance,  have  sought 
Its  cheering  influences  in  advanced  life.  I  know  of  one  whose 
early  manhood  and  maturer  years  were  spent  on  the  boister- 
ous deep,  and  who,  though  now  past  eighty,  is  still  an  ardent, 
but  quiet  angler;  and  when  no  better  sport  can  be  found, 
He  will  even  fish  through  the  ice  in  winter  for  Roach.  No 
doubt  his  days  have  been  lengthened  out,  and  the  burden  of 
life  lightened,  by  his  love  of  angling. 

But  how  sweetly  memories  of  the  past  come  to  one  who 
has  appreciated   and  enjoyed  it  from  his  boyhood,  whose 
almost  first  penny,  after  he  wore  jacket  and  trowsers,  bought 
his  first  fish-hook ;   whose  first  fishing-line  was  twisted  by 
mother  or  sister ;  whose  float  was  the  cork  of  a  physic  vial, 
and  whose  sinkers  were  cut  from  the  sheet-lead  of  an  old  tea- 
chest  !     Thus  rigged,  with  what  glad  anticipations  of  sport, 
many  a  boy  has  started  on  some  bright  Saturday  morning, 
his  gourd,  or  old  cow's  horn  of  red  worms  in  one  pocket,  and 
a  jack-knife  in  the  other,  to  cut  his  alder-pole  with,   and 
wandered  "free  and   far"  by  still   pool   and   swift  waters, 
dinnerless — except  perhaps  a  slight  meal  at  a  cherry  tree,  or 
a  handful  of  berries  that  grew  along  his  path — and  come 
Home  at  night  weary  and  footsore,  but  exulting  in  his  string 
of  chubs,  minnows,  and  sunnies,  the  largest  as  broad  as  his 
three  fingers!     He  almost  falls  asleep  under  his  Saturday 
night  scrubbing,  but  in  the  morning,  does  ample  justice  to 
his  "catch,"  which  is  turned  out  of  the  pan,  crisp  and  brown, 
and  matted  together  like  a  pan-cake. 

In  my  school  days,  a  boy  might  have  been  envied,  but  not 
-Dved  for  proficiency  in  his  studies ;  but  he  was  most  courted, 
WDo  knew  the  best  fishing-holes ;  who  had  plenty  of  powder 


ANGLING. 


29 


and  shot ;  the  best  squirrel  dog,  and  the  use  of  his  father's 
long  flintlock  gun.  And  I  confess,  as  I  write  these  lines  with 
my  spectacles  on,  that  I  have  still  a  strong  drawing  towards 
this  type  of  a  boy,  whether  I  meet  him  in  my  lonely  rambles, 
or  whether  he  dwells  only  in  my  memory. 

Sometimes  the  recollection  of  our  boyish  sports  comes  back 
to  us  after  manhood,  and  one  who  has  been  "  addicted"  to 
fishing  relapses  into  his  old  "  ailment ;"  then  angling  becomes 
a  pleasant  kind  of  disease,  and  one's  friends  are  apt  to 
become  inoculated  with  the  virus,  for  it  is  contagious.  Or 
men  are  informally  introduced  to  each  other  on  the  stream, 
by  a  good-humored  salutation,  or  an  inquiry  of  "  Wliat  luckr 
or  a  display  of  the  catch,  or  the  offer  of  a  segar,  or  the  flask, 
or  a  new  fly ;  and  with  such  introduction  have  become  fast 
friends,  from  that  affinity  which  draws  all  true  anglers 
together. 

But  let  me  ask  what  is  an  angler,  and  who  is  a  true  angler  ? 
One  who  fishes  with  nets  is  not,  neither  is  he  who  spears, 
snares,  or  dastardly  uses  the  crazy  bait  to  get  fish,  or  who 
catches  them  on  set  lines ;  nor  is  he  who  is  boisterou.s,  noisy, 
or  quarrelsome;  nor  are  those  who  profess  to  practise  the 
higher  branches  of  the  art,  and  affect  contempt  for  their  more 
humble  brethren,  who  have  not  attained  to  their  proficiency, 
imbued  with  the  feeling  that  should  possess  the  true  angler.  ' 
Nor  is  he  who  brings  his  ice-chest  from  town,  and  fishes 
all  day  with  worm  or  fly,  that  he  may  return  to  the  city  and 
boastingly  distribute  his  soaked  and  tasteless  trout  among 
his  friends,  and  brag  of  the  numbers  be  has  basketed,  from 
fingerlings  upwards. 

Anglers  may  be  divided  into  almost  as  many  genera  and 
species  as  the  fish  thev  catch,  and  engage  in  the  sport  from 
as  many  impulses.  Let  me  give,  "  en  passant,"  a  sketch  of  a 
few  of  the  many  I  have  met  with. 


80 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


There  is  the  Fussy  Angler,  a  great  bore;  of  course  you  will 
shun  him.  The  "  Snob"  Angler,  who  speaks  confidently  and 
knowingly  on  a  slight  capital  of  skill  or  experience.  The 
Greedy,  Pushing  Angler,  who  rushes  ahead  and  half  fishes  the 
water,  leaving  those  who  follow,  in  doubt  as  to  whether  he 
has  fished  a  pool  or  rift  carefully,  or  slurred  it  ove-  in  his 
haste  to  reach  some  well-known  place  down  the  stream 
before  his  companions.  The  company  of  these,  the  quiet, 
careful  angler  will  avoid. 

We  also  meet  sometimes  with  the  "Spick-and-Span"  Angler,, 
who  has  a  highly  varnished  rod,  and  a  superabundance  of 
useless  tackle ;  his  outfit  is  of  the  most  elaborate  kind  as 
regards  its  finish.     He  is  a  dapper  "well  got  up"  angler  in 
all  his  appointments,  and  fishes  much  in-doors  over  his  claret 
and  poteen,  when   he  has  a  good   listener.     He  frequently 
displays  bad  taste  in  his  tackle,  intended  for  fly-fishing,  by 
having  a  thirty  dollar  multiplying  reel,  filled  with  one  of 
Conroy's  very  best  relaid  sea-grass  lines,strong  enough  to 
hold  a  dolphin.     If  you  meet  him  on  the  teeming  waters  of 
northern   New   York,   the   evening's  display  of  his  catch, 
depends  much  on  the  rough  skill  of  his  guide. 

The  Eough-and-Eeady  Angler,  the  opposite  of  the  afore- 
named, disdains  all  "tomfoolery,"  and  carries  his  tackle  in 
an  old  shot-bag,  and  his  flies  in  a  tangled  mass. 

We  have  also  the  Literary  Angler,  who  reads  Walton  and 
admires  him  hugely;  he  has  been  inoculated  with  the 
sentimeni  only ;  the  five-mile  walk  up  the  creek,  where  it  has 
not  been  fished  much,  is  very  fatiguing  to  him ;  he  "  did  not 
know  he  must  wade  the  stream,"  and  does  not  until  he  slips 
in,  and  then  he  has  some  trouble  at  night  to  get  his  boots  oft". 
He  is  provided  witli  a  stout  bass  rod,  good  strong  leaders  of 
salmon- gut,  and   a   stock  of  Conroy's   "journal   flies,"  and 


ANGLING. 


81 


wonders  if  he  had  not  better  put  on  a  slwt  just  above  his 
stretcher-fly. 

The  Pretentious  Angler,  to  use  a  favorite  expression  of  the 
lamented  Dickey  Biker,  once  Eecorder  of  the  city  of  New 
rork,  is  one  "that  prevails  to  a  great  extent  in  this  com- 
munity."   This  gentleman  has  many  of  the  qualities  attri- 
buted  by  Fisher,  of  the  "Angler's  Souvenir,"  to  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy.     If  he  has  attained  the  higher  branches  of  the  art,  he 
affects  to  despise  all  sport  which  he  considers  less  scientific; 
if  a  salmon  fisher,  he  calls  trout  "vermin;"  if  he  is  a  trout 
fly-fisher,  he  professes  contempt  for  bait  fishing.     We  have 
talked  with  true  anglers  who  were  even  disposed  to  censure 
the  eminent  Divine,  who  has  so  ably,  and  with  such  labor  of 
love,  edited  our  American  edition  of  Walton,  for  affectation, 
in  saying  of  the  red  worm,  "our  hands  have  long  since  been 
washed  of  the  dirty  things."   The  servant  should  not  be  above 
his  master,  and  certainly  "  Iz.  Wa.,"  whose  disciple  the  Doctor 
professed  to  be.  considered  it  no  indignity  to  use  them,  nor 
was  he  disgusted  with  his  "  horn  of  gentles."    But  the  Doctor 
was  certainly  right  in  deprecating  the  use  of  ground  bait  in 
reference  to  trout,  when  the  angler  can  with  a  little  faith  and 
less  greed  soon  learn  the  use  of  the  fly. 

The  Shad-Toe  Fisherman. -The  habitat  of  this  genus  (and 
they  are  rarely  found  elsewhere)  is  Philadelphia.  There  are 
many  persons  of  the  aforesaid  city,  who  fish  only  when  this 
bait  can  be  had,  and  an  idea  seems  to  possess  them  that  fish 
w.ll  bite  at  no  other.  This  fraternity  could  have  been  found 
some  years  back,  singly  or  in  pairs,  or  little  coteries  of  three 
or  four,  on  any  sun-shiny  day  from  Easter  to  Whitsuntide 
heavmg  their  heavy  dipsies  and  horsehair  snoods  from  the 
ends  of  the  piers,  or  from  canal-boats  laid  up  in  ordinarv-the 
old  floating  bridge  at  Gray's  Ferry  was  a  favorite  resort  for 


88 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


tbem.    Sometimes  the  party  was  convivial,  and  provided  with 
a  junk  bottle  of  what  they  believed  to  be  oU  rye. 

Before  the  gas-works  had  destroyed  the  fishing  in  the 
Schuylkill,  I  frequently  observed  a  solitary  individual  of  this 
species,  wending  his  way  to  the  river  on  Sunday  mornings 
with  a  long  reed-pole  on  his  shoulder,  and  in  his  hand  a  tin 
kettle  of  shad-roe;  and  his  "prog,"  consisting  of  hard-boiled 
eggs  and  crackers  and  cheese,  tied  up  in  a  cotton  bandana 
handkerchief.  Towards  nightfall  "he  might  have  been  seen" 
(as  James  the  novelist  says  of  the  horseman),  trudging  home- 
ward with  a  string  of  Pan  Eock  and  White  Perch,  or 
"  Catties"  and  Eels,  his  trowsers  and  coat  sleeves  well  plastered 
with  his  unctuous  bait,  suggesting  the  idea  of  what,  in  vulgar 
parlance,  might  be  called  "a  very  nasty  man." 

But  let  us  not  turn  up  our  scientific  noses  at  this  humble 
brother;  nor  let  the  home  missionary  or  tracr  distributor  rate 
him  too  severely,  if  he  should  meet  with  him  in  his  Sunday 
walks;  for  who  can  tell  what  a  quiet  day  of  consolation  it 
has  been  to  him ;  he  has  found  relief  from  the  toils  and  cares 
of  the  week,  and  perhaps  from  the  ceaseless  tongue  of  his 
shrewish  "old  woman."  If  his  sport  has  been  good,  he 
follows  It  up  the  next  day,  and  keeps  "blue  Monday." 

We  have  seen  some  very  respectable  gentlemen  in  our  day 
engaged  in  fishing  with  shad-roe  at  Fairmount  Dam.  The 
bar  even  had  its  representative,  in  one  of  our  first  criminal 
court  lawyers.  He  did  not  "dress  the  character"  with  as 
much  discrimination  as  when  he  lectured  on  Shakspeare,  for 
he  always  wore  his  blue  coat  with  gilt  buttons:  he  did  not 
appear  to  be  a  successful  angler.  "  Per  contra"  to  this  was  a 
wealthy  retired  merchant,  who  used  to  astonish  us  with  his 
knack  of  keeping  this  difficult  bait  on  his  hooks,  and  his  skill 
in  hooking  little  White  Perch.  Many  a  troller  has  seen  him 
flitting  bolt  upright  in  the  bow  of  his  boat  on  a  cool  morning 


ANGLING. 


83 


in  May,  with  his  overcoat  buttoned  up  to  his  chin,  his  jolly 
spouse  in  the  stern,  and  his  servant  amidship,  baiting  the 
hooks  and  taking  off  the  lady's  fish.  The'  son  also  was  an 
adept  as  well  as  the  sire.  Woe  to  the  perch  fisher,  with  his 
bait  of  little  silvery  eels,  if  these  occupied  the  lower  part  of 
the  swim,  for  the  fish  were  all  arrested  by  the  stray  ova  that 
floated  off  from  the  "  gobs"  of  shad- roe. 

As  we  love  contrasts,  let  us  here  make  a  slight  allusion  to 
that  sensible  "old  English  gentleman,"   the  Admiral,  who 
surveyed  the  north-west  coast  of  America,  to  see,  if  in  the 
contingency  of  the  Yankees  adhering  to  their  claim  of  "fifty- 
four  forty,"  the  country  about  Vancouver's  Island  was  worth 
contending  for.     He  was  an  ardent  angler,  and  it  is  reported, 
that  on  leaving  his  ship  he  provided  stores  for  a  week,,  which 
comprised  of  course  not  a  few  drinkables,  as  well  as  salmon 
rods  and  other  tackle,  and  started  in  his  boats  to  explore  the 
rivers   and  tributaries,   which,   so  goes  the  story,   were  so 
crammed  in  many  places  with  salmon,  that  they  could  be 
captured  with  a  boat-hook ;  and  still  with  all  the  variety  of 
salmon  flies  and  the  piscatory  skill  of  the  admiral  and  his 
officers,  not  a  fish  could  be  induced  to  rise  at  the  fly.    He 
returnea  to  his  ship  disheartened  and  disgusted,   averring 
that  the  country  was  not  worth  contending  for;  that  the 
Yankees  might  have  it  and  be ;  but  it  would  be  inde- 
corous to  record  the  admiral's  mild  expletive. 

The  True  Angler  is  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of 
gentle  old  Izaak.  He  has  no  affectation,  and  when  a  fly-cast 
is  not  to  be  had,  can  find  amusement  in  catching  Sunfish  or 
Roach,  and  does  not  despise  the  sport  of  any  humbler  brother 
of  the  angle.  With  him,  fishing  is  a  recreation,  and  a 
"  calmer  of  unquiet  thoughts."  He  never  quarrels  with  his 
luck,  knowing  that  satiety  dulls  one's  appreciation  of  sport 
as  much  as  want  of  success,  but  is  ever  content  when  he  has 
3 


84 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


done  his  best,  and  looks  hopefully  forward  to  a  more  pro- 
pitious  day.  Whether  from  boat  or  rocky  shore,  or  alon^ 
the  sedgy  bank  of  the  creek,  or  the  stony  margin  of  the 
mountain  brook,  he  deems  it  an  achievement  to  take  fish 
when  they  are  difficult  to  catch,  and  his  satisfaction  is  in 
proportion.  If  he  is  lazy,  or  a  superannuated  angler,  he  can 
even  endure  a  few  days'  trolling  on  an  inland  lake,  and 
smokes  his  cigar,  chats  with  the  boatman,  and  takes  an 
occasional  "nip,"  as  he  is  rowed  along  the  wooded  sliore  and 
amongst  the  beautiful  islands. 

A  true  angler  is  generally  a  modest  man ;  unobtrusively 

communicative  when  he  can  impart  a  new  idea ;  and  is  evei 

ready  to   let  a  pretentious  tyro   have  his  say,  and  good- 

naturedly  (as  if  merely  suggesting  how  it  should  be  done) 

repairs   his  tackle,  or  gets   him   out  of  a   scrape.     He  is 

moderately  provided  with  all  tackle  and  "fixins"  necesoary 

to  the  fishing  he  is  in  pursuit  of.     Is  quietly  self-reliant  and 

equal  to  almost  any  emergency,  from  splicing  his  rod  or 

tying  his  own  flies,  to  trudging  ten  miles  across  a  rough 

country  with  his  luggage  on  his  back.     His  enjoyment  con- 

sists  not  only  in  the  taking  of  fish :  he  draws  much  pleasure 

from  the  soothing  influence  and  delightful  accompaniments 

of  the  art. 

With  happy  memories  of  the  past  summer,  he  joins  to- 
gether the  three  pieces  of  his  fly-rod  at  home,  when  the 
scenes  of  the  last  season's  sport  are  wrapped  in  snow  and  ice, 
and  renews  the  glad  feelings  of  long  summer  days.  With 
what  interest  he  notes  the  swelling  of  the  buds  on  the  maples, 
or  the  advent  of  the  blue-bird  and  robin,  and  looks  forward 
to  the  day  when  he  is  to  try  another  cast  I  and,  when  it 
comes  at  last,  with  what  pleasing  anticipations  he  packs  up 
his  "traps,"  and  leaves  his  business  cares  and  the  noisy  city 
behind,  and  after  a  few  hours'  or  few  days'  travel  in  the  cars, 


AX  G  LINO. 


86 


and  a  few  miles  in  a  rough  wagon,  or  a  vigorous  tramp  over 
rugged  hills  or  along  the  road  that  leads  up  the  banks  of  the 
river,  he  arrives  at  his  quarters  I  He  is  now  in  the  region 
of  fresh  butter  and  mealy  potatoes — there  are  always  good 
potatoes  in  a  mountainous  trout  country.  How  pleasingly 
rough  everything  looks  after  leaving  the  prim  city !  Hbw 
pure  and  wholesome  the  air !  How  beautiful  the  clumps  of 
sugar-maples  and  the  veteran  hemlocks  jutting  out  over  the 
stream;  the  laurel;  the  ivy;  the  moss-covered  rocks;  the 
lengthening  shadows  of  evening!  How  musical  the  old 
familiar  tinkling  of  the  cow-bell  and  the  cry  of  the  whip-poor- 
will !    How  sweetly  he  is  lulled  to  sleep  as  he  hears 

"  The  waters  leap  and  gush 
O'er  channelled  rock,  and  broken  bush !'" 

Next  morning,  after  a  hearty  breakfast  of  mashed  potatoes, 
ham  and  eggs,  and  butter  from  the  cream  of  the  cow  that 
browses  in  the  woods,  he  is  off,  three  miles  up  the  creek,  a 
cigar  or  his  pipe  in  his  mouth,  his  creel  at  his  side,  and  his 
rod  over  his  shoulder,  chatting  with  his  chum  as  he  goes ; 
free,  joyous,  happy ;  at  peace  with  his  Maker,  with  himself, 
and  all  mankind ;  he  should  be  grateful  for  this  much,  even 
if  he  catches  no  fish.  How  exhilarating  the  music  of  the 
stream !  how  invigorating  its  waters,  causing  a  consciousness 
of  manly  vigor,  as  he  wades  sturdily  with  the  strong  current 
and  casts  his  flies  before  him  I  When  his  zeal  abates,  and  a 
few  of  the  speckled  lie  in  the  bottom  of  his  creel,  he  is  not 
less  interested  in  the  wild  flowers  ou  the  bank,  or  the  scathed 
old  hemlock  on  the  cliff  above,  with  its  hawk's  nest,  the  lady 
of  the  house  likely  inside,  and  the  male  proprietor  perched 
high  above  on  its  dead  top,  and  he  breaks  forth  lustily — the 
scene  suggesting  the  song — 

'  The  bee's  on  its  wing,  and  the  hawk  on  its  nest, 
And  the  river  runs  merrily  by." 


86 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


When  noon  comes  on,  and  the  trout  rise  lazily  or  merely 
nip,  he  halts  "sub  tegmine  fagi,"  or  under  the  shadow  of  the 
dark  sugar-maple   to  build   a  fire  and  roast  trout  for  his 
dinner,  and  wiles  away  three  hours  or  so.     He  dines  sumptu- 
ously, straightens  and  dries  his  leader  and  the  gut  of  his 
dropper,  and  repairs  all  breakage.     He  smokes  leisurely,  or 
even  takes  a  nap  on  the  green  sward  or  velvety  moss,  and 
resumes  his  sport  when  the  sun  has  declined  enough  to  shade 
at  least  one  side  of  the  stream,  and  pleasantly  anticipates  the 
late  evening  cast  on  the  still  waters  far  down  the  creek.    God 
be  with  you,  gentle  angler,  if  actuated  with  the  feeling  of  our 
old  master  I  whether  you  are  a  top  fisher  or  a  bottom  fisher ; 
whether  your  bait  be  gentles,  brandling,  grub,  or  red  worm ; 
crab,  shrimp,  or  minuow;  caddis,  grasshopper,  or  the  feathery 
counterfeit  of  the  ephemera.     May  your  thoughts  be  always 
peaceful,  and  your  heart  filled  with  gratitude  to  Him  who 
made  the  country  and  the  rivers;  and  "may  the  east  wind 
never  blow  when  you  go  a  fishing  J" 


i'i 

i8 


CHAPTER  II. 
GENERAL  REMARKS   ON  FISH. 


"l"  thn  boglnnlii^  v  rn  tho.  Word,  nml  the  Won)  wm  with  Ood,  nnd 
the  word  wa«  Ood.  *  »  ''  All  tliliiKS  wore  iqa.  o  by  him  ;  and  without 
him  WHB  uot  any  thing  made  tliat  wiw  made  " 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENERAL   REMARKS  ON  FISH. 

Definition.— Origin  and  order  in  creation.— Natural  mode  of  propagation.— 
Habits  as  regards  maternity.— Migration,— Vitality.— Extei"-al  or- 
guns.— Internal  organization.— Ichthyology. 

A  Fish,  according  to  the  definition  of  naturalists,   is  a 
vertebrate  animal  with  red  blood,  breathing  through  water 
by  means  of  branchiae,  generally  called  gills.     The  term  fish 
is  frequently  applied  by  unscientific  persons,  to  animals  not 
of  the  ichthyic  class,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Whale,  which  is  a 
true  mammal,   but  resembling   the   fish   in  many  respects, 
although  its  tail  is  placed  horizontally  instead  of  in  an  upright 
position.     Crustacea  and  Molluscs  (Crabs,  Lobsters,  Oysters, 
Clams,  and  Muscles),  are  also  erroneously  called  "shell-fish." 
In  the  records,  of  Creation,  as  shown  by  Paleontologists, 
the  remains  of  the  earliest  fishes  appear  in  the  upper  Silurian 
system,  immediately  beneath  the  Old  Eed  Sandstone.     They 
were  the  first  vertebrate  animals,  and  were  cotemporuneous 
with  the  earliest  terrestrial  vegetation.     These  fish  were  all 
of  one  order,  and  are  termed  Placoids  by  Professor  Agassiz. 
They  had    internal   cartilaginous   frames,   and   an   external 
armature  of  plates,  spines,  and  shagreen  points.     This  order 
has  representatives  at  the  present  day, 'in  the  Sharks  and  Dog- 
fish of  our  salt-water  bays  and  inlets.     Some  of  the  ancient 
Sharks  had  a  mouth  terminal  at  the  snout,  and  not  under- 
neath  as  our  man-eater,  and  instead  of  sht>rp  incisors,  the 

(39) 


40 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


•  ! 


1 


interior  of  the  mouth  and  throat  was  tbiclcly  studded  with 
hard,  crushing  tooth. 

Next  to  the  Placoidal  order,  and  before  they  had  dimin- 
ished ill  number,  came  the  Ganoids,  whose  covering  consisted 
of  a  nearly  continuous  armor  of  hard  bone  with  an  enamelled 
surface.     One  of  the  few  representatives  of  this  order,  known 
to  us,   is  the   '' Lepidmlexid'  (the  Gar-fish  of  the  South  and 
West),  whose  coat  of  mail  appears  to  be  made  of  diamond- 
shaped  pieces  closely  joined   with  sutures  between.     Hugh 
Miller  .<4ays,  "  with  the  Old  Red  Sandstone,  the  Ganoids  were 
ushered  upon  the  scene  in  ama/.ing  abundance,  and  for  untold 
ages,  comprisi-flg  mayhap,  millions  of  years;  the  entire  Iclithyic 
class  consisted,   so  far  as  is  yet  known,   of  but  these  two 
orders  (Placoids  and  Ganoids).     During  the  time  of  the  Old 
Ked  Sandstone,  of  the  Carboniferous,  of  the  Permean,  of  the 
Triassic,  and  of  the  Oolitic  systems,  all  fishes  apparently  as 
numerous  as  they  now  are,  were  comprised  in  the  Ganoidal 
and  Placoidal  orders.     At  length  during   the   ages  of  the 
Chalk,    the   Cycloids    and   Ctenoids   were    ushered   in,    and 
gradually  developed  in  Creation  until  the  human  period,  in 
which  time   they  seem  to  have  reached  their  culminating 
point,  and   now  many  times   exceed  in   number  all  other 
fishes." 

The  "  Ctenoids,"  l^ere  mentioned  by  Miller,  as  the  third  in 
order  <  f  Creation,  is  one  of  he  four  lers  erected  by  Agassiz, 
and  comprise  all  of  those  fishes,  the  free  edges  of  whose 
scales  are  serrated  or  pectinated  like  the  teeth  of  a  comb.  To 
this  order  belong  the  whole  family  of  Perch,  and  other 
families  which  have  sharp  spinous  dorsal  fins.  Amongst  the 
Cycloids,  are  contained  all  those  whose  scales  have  smooth 
continuous  margins;  these  are  generally  or  entirely  soft- 
finned  fish,  as  the  salmon,  shad,  herring,  carp,  chub,  &c. 
In  describing  the  fishes  of  the  earlier  periods,  Hugh  Miller 


OBNERAL  REMARKS  ON  FISH. 


41 


continues  in  his  cnrnost  mimner:  "Tlio  dynasty  of  thu  Ganoids 
waa  at  one  tinie  co-extensivo  with  every  river,  lake,  and  sea; 
and  endured  durin<^  the  unreckoned  eons,  whicli  extended 
from  the  time  of  the  lovvor  Old  Eed  Sandstone  until  those  of 
the  Chalk.  I  may  here  mention,  that  as  there  are  orders  of 
plants,  such  as  the  Eosaoae,  and  the  grasses,  that  scarce 
preceded  man  in  tlieir  appearance ;  so  there  are  families  of 
fishes  that  seem  to  belong  peculiarly  to  the  human  period. 
*  »  »  #  #  rpjjy  delicate  Salmonidaa  and  I'louronectidte 
families  to  which  the  Salmon  and  Turbot  belong,  were 
ushered  into  being  as  early  as  the  times  of  the  Chalk ;  but  the 
Gadidse  or  Cod  Family  did  not  precede  man  by  at  least  any 
time  appreciable  to  the  geologist."  We  might  follow  Miller 
further  in  his  remarks,  and  might  show  the  reptilian  and 
ichthyic  characteristics  in  the  same  animal;  a  fish  apparently 
approaching  the  reptile,  and  the  reptile  the  fish. 

We  do  not  intend  here  to  go  into  a  lengthy  or  scientific 
description  of  the  roe  as  it  exists  in  the  female ;  its  ejection 
and  impregnation  by  the  milt  of  the  male;  its  progress  in 
iii^u  nation,  and  the  production  and  growth  of  the  young;  but 
refer  the  reader  to  our  article  on  Pisciculture,  for  all  essential 
information  on  so  ii  'cresting  a  subject. 

All  observing  anglers  know  that  the  roe  is  contained  in 
two  sacks;  this,  as  well  as  the  milt  ^f  the  male,  is  gradually 
formed  and  developed  as  the  fish  arrives  at  the  age  of 
puberty,  and  the  same  rule  of  formation,  and  growth  of  the 
roe  or  milt,  is  repeated  in  the  same  individual  after  it  recu- 
perates  from  the  exhausting  effects  of  spawning. 

Fish  of  the  genus  Sahm,  wliich  includes  our  Brook  Trout, 
are  amongst  the  few  that  spawn  in  autumn.  The  ova  of 
these  require  water  highly  aerated,  much  oxygen  being 
needed  in  the  incubation.  These  select  the  gentle  current 
of  the  streams,  but  if  this  is  not  accessible,  as  is  the  case  in 


42 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


;' 


Jk 


sluggish  trout  rivers  and  lakelets,  they  find  some  pool  with 
gravelly  bottom  where  a  cool  spring  enters.  They  generally 
spawn  in  pairs  or  communities.  After  preparing  the  bed,  by 
displacing  the  gravel  with  their  noses,  and  excavating  an 
oblong  furrow  of  a  few  inches  in  depth,  the  female  deposits 
her  spawn  in  the  trench,  and  the  male  ejects  his  milt  over  it, 
when  fecundation  ensues  and  the  gravel  is  replaced.  Another 
furrow  is  then  made;  the  spawn  and  milt  cast;  the  ova 
covered  over  as  before ;  and  the-  process  repeated  until  the 
roe  and  milt  are  exhausted. 

The  time  required  for  hatching  out  the  spawn,  is  various 
with  the  different  orders  and  families,  Tn  the  same  genera, 
or  even  in  the  same  species,  the  time  may  vary.  Much  de- 
pends on  climate  and  the  temperature  of  the  water ;  the 
warmer  streams  hatching  out  the  eggs  before  those  of  a  lower 
temperature.  The  spawn  of  the  Trout,  wliich  is  deposited  from 
the  middle  of  September  to  the  first  of  November,  produces 
the  yoang  froin  the  first  of  December  to  the  first  of  March, 
and  in  artificial  ponds,  if  protected  from  the  cold  winds,  the 
young  fish  are  produced  sooner,  and  grow  faster  than  in 
streams  of  the  forest.  I  have  seen  young  Trout  taken  below 
an  artificial  pond,  near  Philadelphia,  two  inches  long,  in  the 
latter  part  of  April. 

Fish  that  spawn  in  still  water  generally  deposit  their  ova 
on  plants,  which  give  out  sufficient  oxygen  to  promote  fecun- 
dation. 

It  is  seldom  tliat  the  .young  of  any  fish  are  taken  by  the 
angler  during  the  first  summer,  as  they  avoid  the  waters 
where  he  finds  his  sport,  awl  seek  smaller  streams,  and 
shallower  water,  to  escape  the  larger  predatory  fish ;  the  fiict 
of  their  being  of  the  same  species  as  the  destroyer,  is  no  pro- 
tection to  the  small  fry. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  go  into  an  account  of  the  mode  of  pro- 


GENERAL    REMARKS    ON   FISH. 


48 


.luction  of  viviparous  fish,  the  Shark,  for  instance,  and  others 
that  produce  their  young  alive,  as  they  are  of  little  interest 
to  the  angler,  as  far  as  sport  is  concerned. 

Naturalists  who  confine  themselves  closely  to  in-door  studies, 
sometimes  adopt  general  rules  and  construct  theories,  to  which 
observers  of  less  scientific  knowledge,  but  with  more  frequent 
opportunities  for  observation,  find  many  exceptions. 

One  would  conclude  from  the  writings  of  ichthyologists, 
that  fish  always  desert  their  ova  after  fecundation,  and,  with 
slight  precaution  against  enemies  or  accident,  leave  them  to 
their  fate;  never  caring  for,  or  protecting  their  ova.     It  is 
true  that  many  families,  including  the  Salvionidse,  are  reck- 
lessly improvident  of  their  fecundated  spawn ;  male  Trout  have 
been  found  with  their  stomachs  full  of  the  roe  of  their  asso- 
ciates on  the  same  spawning-bed.     But  to  the  rule  which  in- 
door naturalists  suppose  to  be  general,  there  are  many  excep- 
tions; some  of  them  interesting  cases  of  provident  care  in  the 
protection  of  the  impregnated  spawn,  and  even  of  maternal 
solicitude,  for  their  young.     We  might  instance  that  of  the 
little  Sunfish,  which  spawns  in  the  month  of  June,  around 
the  gr-avelly  shores  of  mill-ponds,  removing  the  pebbles  and 
twigs  to  the  margin  of  its  bed,  which  is  frequently  two  or 
three  feet  in  diameter,  piling  them  up  a  few  inches  as  a  ram- 
part to  its  fortress,  driving  off  all  intruders,  and   keeping 
watch  and  ward  until  the  young  are  hatched.     The  little  l?od 
Fin,  which  spawns  in  communities,  is  frequently  observed 
by  the  trout  fisher  constructing  its  mound  of  pebbles  with 
skill  and  care.    Scoras  or  hundreds  of  them  may  be  seen  work- 
ing together  assiduously,  piling  up  alternate  layers  of  gravel 
and  impregnated  spawn,  until  the  top  of  the  heap  is  some- 
times twelve  or  fifteen  inches  high,  and  its  base  three  or  four 
feet  in  diameter,  leaving  it  a  mass  teeming  with  embryo  life. 
The  common  Catfish  of  our  raill-nonds  and  ditches  mav  fro- 


44 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


quently  be  seen  with  her  family  around  her,  protecting  and 
seeking  feeding  grounds  for  her  dusky  progeny.  The  Stickle- 
back builds  a  nest,  mounts  guard,  and  pugnaciously  warns 
off  all  intruders  of  like,  or  even  larger  size. 

All  fish,  in  spawning,  instinctively  seek  water  containing 
more  or  less  atmospheric  air;  Carp,  and  other  Gyprinidse 
requiring  less  for  the  vivification  of  their  eggs  than  other 
fresh-water  species, 

Griffith,  in  his  Animal  Kingdom,  says  some  of  the  Pelagian 
genera  spawn  amongst  floatl.ig  grass  and  sea-weed,  and  says 
that  broad  bands  of  fish-spawn  have  been  seen  south  of  the 
equator,  producing  mile-long  patches  of  unruffled  surface. 
I  doubt  whether  this  can  be  so ;  if  true,  such  instances  are 
rare  exceptions  to  the  general  rule  of  spawning  on  the  bottom. 

The  family  of  Oaddidse,  which  includes  Codfish,  it  is  sup- 
posed spawn  in  deep  water,  thougli  this  cannot  be  at  any  con- 
siderable distance  beneath  the  surface,  as  the  solar  light, 
which  is  necessary  to  the  hatching  of  the  ova,  does  not 
penetrate  many  fathoms. 

Tlie  knowledge  attainable  respecting  the  haunts,  habits 
and  breeding  of  Pelagian  fish  is  necessarily  limited. 

Oviparous  animals  are  the  most  prolific,  and  of  these,  fish 
excel  all  others.  A  full-grown  Carp  is  said  to  produce  from 
one  hundred  thousand  to  two  hundred  thousand  eggs,  a  Perch 
thirty  thousand,  a  Pike  from  thirty  to  eighty  thousand,  and  a 
Codfish  a  half  a  million.  It  is  said  that  a  single  pair  of 
Herrings,  if  allowed  to  reproduce  undisturbed  and  multiply 
for  twenty  years,  would  not  only  supply  the  whole  world  with 
abundance  of  food,  but  would  become  inconveniently  numerous 
The  average  number  of  ova  in  a  Salmon  is  stated  at  twelve 
thousand  ;  if  it  were  possible  that  all  these  eggs  produced  fish) 
and  they  arrived  at  maturity,  there  would  be  twelve  thousand 
Salmon,  or  six  thousand  pairs,  whose  produce,  at  the  same 


GENERAL    REMARKS    ON   FISH. 


45 


rate,  would  be  seventy-two  millions.     At  an  average  of  ten 
pounds,  these  fish,  of  the  third  generation,  would  weigh  seven 
hundred  and  twenty  million  pounds,  or  enough  to  lold  three 
•     hundred  and  twenty-two  ships,  of  a  thousand  tons  each. 

Some  fish  produce  large  ova,  covered  with  horny  shells. 
Some  few,  including  the  true  shark,  are  viviparous,  producing 
their  young  alive;  tlie  eggs,  of  course,  being  fecundated  in 
the  abdomen;  but  with  all  fish  which  contribute  to  the  sport 
of  the  angler,  the  female  casts  her  roe,  which  is  impregnated 
by  the  milt  of  the  male  being  cast  over  it. 

There  are  no  hermaphrodites  amongst  fish,  as  has  been 
supposed  by  some  ichthyologists,  who  cite  the  Lamprey  as 
one.  It  has  been  satisfactorily  ascertained,  that  amonost  all 
the  verobrates,  on  land  or  in  the  water,  there  are  no  such  ex- 
ceptions. 

There  are  immute'  'e  lam  in  God's  providence,  which 
compel  the  migratior  .'  fish  as  well  as  of  birds.    Some 
species  are  anadromo    ,  as  the  Salmon,  Sea  Trout,  Smelt, 
Shad,  and  Elver  Herring;  these  change  their  habitation 
annually  from  the  sea  to  fresh  rivers,  which  they  ascend 
for  the  purpose  of  spawning;  most  of  them  with  v™nderful 
mstmct  returning,  if  there  be  no  obstructions,  to  their  native 
streams,  and  in  their  course  supply  us  with  food,  when  in 
their  greatest  physical  perfection.     After  propagation,  in 
meagre,  lank  condition,  they  seek  the  sea  again,  where,  from 
the  abundance  and  great  nutritive  quality  of  their  food,  they 
recuperate  and  grow  rapidly.    The  young  fry  that  go  seaward 

adult  flsh,  perfect  m  their  powers  of  reproduction 

Some  ot  the  species  common  to  the  long  rivers  and  great 
lakes  of  our  interior,  also  change  their  abodes,  traversing 
perhaps  as  great  an  extent  of  water  a,  the  Shad  and  Salmon 
though  not  for  the  purpose  of  spawning. 


'li! 


46 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


That  law  of  nature,  though,  which  impels  the  migration  of 
«tome  genera  to  distant  waters  of  the  ocean  is  most  wonderful. 
Many  Herring  and  Codfish  come  to  us  from  the  Arctic  seas, 
the  former  are  the  surplus  production  of  that  great  storehouse 
thrown  oitj  never  to  return  ;  furnishing  in  their  distar.t  jour- 
ney, food  to  the  barbarians  of  the  coast,  and  wealth  and  occu- 
pation to  vast  numbers  of  civilized  men ;  and  their  yearly 
advent  is  looked  for,  and  depended  upon,  with  as  much  confi- 
dence as  the  return  of  summer. 

The  Scomhridse,  embracing  the  difterent  species  of  Mack- 
erel, come  to  our  latitudes  from  the  south  ;  their  natal  shores 
and  waters  unknown ;  they  come  all  of  them  adult  fish,  fur- 
nishing food  and  employment  to  thousands,  as  well  as  a  great 
maritime  school  for  seamen ;  it  is  most  likely  that  most  of 
these  also  never  return  to  the  regions  from  which  they  mi- 
grated. 

Many  fish  which  are  bred  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the 
bays  and  inlets  of  our  southern  coast,  arrive  in  our  waters 
mature  fish,  and  are  found  all  summer  in  our  markets. 
Amongst  these  are  the  splendid  Spanish  Mackerel,  the 
Sheepshead,  Croaker,  Barb,  Spot,  and  Mullet.  The.so  \\  e  may 
reasonably  set  down  as  the  surplus  production  of  the  waters 
where  they  breed,  and  probably  never  return  from  their  long 
northern  journey.  They  are  not  known  to  us  before  the  age 
of  puberty,  whih.  their  young  are  found  in  great  shoals  in  the 
shallows  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  our  southern  bays. 

The  Sheepshead,  in  the  New  Orleans  and  Mobile  markets, 
are  most  of  them  pan-fish,  from  a  half-pound  to  a  pound  and 
a  half  in  weight,  while  they  are  seldom  found  in  this  latitude 
])elow  four  or  five  pounds.  From  any  point  of  the  southern 
coast  which  approaches  the  Gulf  Stream,  fish,  by  coming  up 
with  its  current,  would  be  sensible  of  little  or  no  change  of 
temperature.     One  cause  of  the  migration  of  southeri\  fish 


GENERAL    REMARKS    ON    PISH. 


may  be  attributed  to  tbe  sea  weed  which  comes  northAvard 
with  the  Gulf  Stream;  floating  on  its  surface,  and  amongst, 
and  in  it,  are  found  small  Crustacea,  minute  Mollusca,  gelati- 
nous animals,  and  the  small  fry,  which  many  species  follow  to 
feed  upon. 

It  was  supposed  at  one  time  that  Shad  and  Herring,  which 
enter  our  rivers  for  the  purpose  of  spawning,  migrated  from 
the  south,  where  it  was  thought  they  hibernated.     Such  sup- 
position was  based  upon  the  fact  that  these  fish  are  found  at 
an  earlier  period  of  the  season  in  the  bays  and  rivers  of  a 
more  southern  latitude  on  our  coast.     But  it  is  now  thought, 
with  much  greater  show  of  reason,  that  they  enter  those  waters 
earlier  only  because  the  season  for  spawning  there,  precedes 
that  of  our  more  northern  rivers,  and  that  these  fish,  as  Avell 
as  Salmon,  do  not  wander  any  considerable  distance  from 
the  mou*hs  of  rivers  and  bays  from  which  they  migrated  the 
preceding  summer  or  autumn. 

We  should  not  omit,  in  these  general  remarks,  to  mention 
the  peculiar  powers  given  to  some  fish  of  existing  for  a  time 
out  of  their  natural  element,  and  retaining  their  vitality  when 
animation  is  apparently  suspended ;  and  also  the  wonderful 
vitality  of  the  impregnated  spawn. 

It  is  well  known  by  many  of  our  city  anglers,  that  the  little 
Roach,  which  is  taken  in  winter,  and  thrown  upon  the  ice  or 
snow,  even  if  it  is  entirely  frozen,  will  become  quite  lively 
if  placed  in  hydrant  water  of  ordinary  temperature ;  this  is 
also  said  to  be  the  case  with  the  Trout,  which,  if  transported 
in  winter  when  frozen,  will  swim  about,  if  placed  in  sprin<y 
water.  It  is  said,  however,  that  fish  once  frozen,  lose  their 
sight;  the  delicate  organization  of  the  eye  being  destroyed  by 
its  liquids  having  been  congealed ;  if  this  be  a  fact,  it  may 
prevent  their  breeding,  on  being  transferred  to  other  waters, 
in  such  condition. 


48 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


When  the  temperature  of  the  air  is  below  sixty-five,  it  is 
very  easy  to  wrap  a  Eoach  or  Chub  of  six  inches  long,  in  a 
wet  handkerchief,  and  bring  it  home  alive.  White  Perch, 
Labrax  pallidiis,  taken  towards  sundown  in  cool  weather,  if 
placed  carefully  in  a  basket,  will  live  more  than  an  hour,  and 
bo  n^  lively  in  a  few  minut(>S  in  a  tub  of  hydrant  water  as  in 
the  river. 

A  friend  assured  me  that  once,  when  a  boy,  during  a  driz- 
zling rain,  he  got  up  into  a  cherry  tree,  and  in  order  to  keep 
his  string  of  Catfish,  which  he  had  lately  caught,  from  the 
depredations  of  some  hogs  beneath,  he  took  them  up  also, 
while  he  got  his  fill  of  cherries,  and  that  he  forgot  his  fish 
in  his  hurried  departure,  but  found  on  going  back  for  them 
the  same  afternoon,  that  they  were  nearly  all  alive,  and  evinced 
it  by  flapping  their  tails.  Here  was  an  instance  of  fish  living 
out  of  water  with  a  switch  thrust  through  one  of  their  gills. 

It  is  stated  on  good  authority,  tliat  in  Germany,  Carp  are 
even  kept  in  a  basket  or  net  in  a  damp  cellar,  through  winter, 
with  the  snout  protruding  through  wet  moss,  and  fed  with 
crumbs  of  bread,  and  fattened  after  the  manner  of  cramming 
poultry. 

In  China,  the  spawn  of  fish  is  a  regular  article  of  traffic, 
and  is  exported  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another,  after 
being  im]^regnated  with  the  milt. 

It  is  an  established  fact,  that  on  draining  Carp  ponds  in 
Germany,  to  cultivate  the  soil,  which  liad  been  flooded  and 
made  a  fish-pond  of,  for  the  purpose  of  enriching  it,  that  the 
spawn  of  the  Carp,  left  after  drawing  off'  the  water,  does  not 
lose  its  vitality,  though  exposed  for  two  or  three  years  to 
the  heat  of  summer  and  frost  of  winter;  and  tliat,  when  the 
field  is  again  converted  into  a  pond,  there  is  no  necessity  for 
restocking  it  with  Carp,  but  the  ova  remaining  beneath  the 


GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  PISH. 


49 


surface  of  the  ground  produces  a  stock  of  Carp;  thus  keeping 
up  an  alternation  of  crops — fish  and  vegetables. 

The  ability  of  a  fish  to  retain    its  vitality  out  of  water, 
depends  in  a  great  degree  on  keeping  the  delicate  tissue  of  its 
gills  wet.     For  this  reason,  a  few  of  them  have  a  peculiar 
construction  in  the  head,  in  which  water  is  retained  after 
leaving  a  river.or  lake;  the  gills  b^ang  kept  wet  by  percola- 
tion from  this  reservoir.     Such  fish  sometimes  have  also  the 
power  of  using  the  lower  fins  as  feet  or  legs,  and  are  enabled, 
by  these  two  singular  gifts  of  nature,  to  pass  over  land  from 
one  body  of  water  to  another.     Incredible  as  it  may  appear, 
It  is  even  said,  that  in  India,  there  is  a  species  of  fish  that  by 
an  extraordinary  use  of  its  fins  can  climb  trees.     A  iriend, 
who  is  curious  on  such  subjects,  has  handed  me  the  following 
account  of  those  that  travel  over  land ;  it  was  clipped  from 
one  of  our  daily  papers. 

"Sir  Emmerson  Tennant's  account  of  fishes  walking  across 
the  country,  has  excited  much  astonishment  and  no  little 
incredulity  in  England.  The  following  passage  from  the 
Penang  Gazette,  is  singularly  corroborative  of  that  gentleman's 
statement : — 

'^  'A  correspondent  in  Province  Wellesley  informs  us  that 
while  passing  along  during  a  shower  of  rain,  the  wide  sandy 
plain  which  bounds  the  sea-coast  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Panaga,  he  witnessed  a  singular  overland  migration  of  Ikan 
Puyu  (a  fish  much  resembling  the  Tench  in  size,  form,  and 
color),  from  a  chain  of  fresh- water  lagoons  lying  immediately 
within  the  sea-beach,  toward  the  second  chain  of  lagoons,  about 
a  hundred  yards  distant  inland.     The  fish  were  in  groups  of 
from  three  to  seven,  and  were  pursuing  their  way  in  a  direct 
line  towards  a  second  chain  of  lagoons,  at  the  rate  of  nearly  a 
mile  an  hour.    When  disturbed  they  turned  round  and  endea- 
vored to  make  their  way  back  to  the  lagoon  they  had  left,  and 


50 


AMERICAN    ANGLKR'&    1500K. 


would  very  soon  have  rep.chcd  it,  had  they  not  been  secured 
by  the  Malays  who  accompanied  our  Cv»rrespondent,  and  who 
looked  upon  the  migration  as  an  ordinary  occurrence  at  this 
season  of  the  year.  Upwards  of  twenty  were  thus  taken 
during  a  walk  of  about  half  a  mile,  and  no  doubt  many  more 
could  have  been  obtained  had  the  Malays  been  allowed  a 
little  delay.  The  ground  these  fish  were  traversing  was 
nearly  level,  and  only  scantily  clothed  with  grass  and  creeping 
salolaceous  plants,  which  offered  very  slight  obstruction  to 
their  progress,  'ihis  singular  habit  will  account  for  the 
rapidity  with  which  the  paddy  fields  in  Province  Wellesley 
become  stocked  with  fish  when  they  are  flooded  by  the  rains. 
The  lagoons  from  which  they  come  contain  water  throughout 
the  year,  while  those  toward  which  they  are  going  are  mere 
hollows,  filled  by  the  late  rains.'  " 

Although  digestion  in  fish  is  rapid,  they  are  capable  of 
living  longer  without  food  than  land  vertebrates,  and  appa- 
rently suffer  little  from  an  abstinence  of  many  days.  Fis'i  of 
quick  growth  digest  food  rapidly.  It  is  said  that  a  Pike  will 
digest  a  fish  of  one-fourth  its  length  in  forty  minutes.  If  this 
be  so,  it  sufficiently  accounts  for  the  circumstance  of  this  and 
other  predatory  species  being  found  so  often  without  food  in 
their  stomachs,  and  little  or  nothing  in  their  intestines. 

It  is  yet  a  mystery,  how  Shad  fatten  and  increase  in  flavor 
after  their  appearance  in  fresh  water ;  no  food  ever  having 
been  detected  in  their  stomachs  after  leaving  salt  water.  The 
same  emptiness  of  stomach  is  also  common  to  the  Salmon 
when  taken  in  fresh  water:  this  peculiarity  appears  to  prevail 
witli  anadromous  fish. 

The  several  species  of  the  genus  Coregomis  (Whitefish) 
of  our  northern  lakes,  are  also  said  to  be  found  generally 
with  empty  stomachs.  There  is  a  theory  adopted  by  many, 
that  such  fish  as  the  last  mentioned,  as  well  as  the  Shad,  live 


GENERAL   REMARKS    ON    FISH. 


51 


on  the  animalculao  retained  in   the  passage   of  the   water 
through  their  gills.  • 

Shad  caught  in  the  salt  water  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and 
brought  to  this  city,  have  been  found  with  small  fish  in  their 
stomachs,  but  they  were  of  species  known  only  in  salt  water. 
All  fish  are  more  or  less  omnivorous  I  have  opened  liock- 
fish,  which  are  known  to  be  predatory  in  their  habits,  and 
found  the  tender  shoots  and  stalks  of  aquatic  grasses  in  the 
throat  and  pouch. 

The  fish  which  furnish  sport  to  the  angler,  have  generally 
eight  fins ;  two  pectorals,  two  ventrals,  one  anal,  two  dorsals, 
and  one  caudal. 

The  pectorals,  as  the  term  implies,  are  the  breast  fins,  and 
project  from  the  humeral  bones ;  they  are  homologous  to  the 
arms  in  man,  or  the  fore  legs  of  quadrupeds.     The  ventrals, 
named  from  being  attached  to  the  belly,  in  most  spine-rayed 
fish,  are  immediately  or  nearly  under  the  pectorals ;  in  soft- 
finned  fish,  about  midway  between  the  head  anl  tail      The 
anal  is  immediately  behind  the  vent ;   the  dorsals   on  the 
back;  and  the  caudal,  which  is  generally  called  the  tail  is 
the  hindmost  fin.     This  last  fin  is  the  chief  motor ;  it  is  used 
as  an  oar  in  sculling,  and  acts  also  as  a  rudder:  the  dorsals 
and  anal  preserve  the  equilibrium,  or,  in  nautical  phrase 
keep  the  fish  on  an  "even  keel."     The  ventrals  are   used 
principally  in  rising,  and  the  pectorals  in  backing,  and  keep- 
nig  the  fish  stationary;  when  they  are  used  alternately,  and 
not  simultaneously,  as  any  other  pair  of  fins. 

The  eye  of  the  fish  has  no  lids,  as  land  animals  have,  but 
a  very  thin  transparent  membrane  drawn  over  it,  which  does 
not  give  It  the  power  of  excluding  the  light;  hence  the  eyes 
are  always  open,  whether  awake  or  asleep_if  a  fish  can  be 
said  to  sleep.  By  the  prominence  of  its  eyes  it  is  able  to 
direct  Its  sight,  somewhat  backward  and  downward,  as  well 


52 


AMERICAN    AlfQLBR'S    BOOK. 


as  forward  and  upward.  The  iris  is  capable  of  no  contraction 
or  expansion,  and  in  order  to  avoid  an  oHjectionablo  degree 
of  light,  it  seeks  greater  depths,  or  the  shady  banks  of  the 
stream.  As  the  fish  may  bo  said  to  have  no  neck,  its  head 
being  set  immovably  on  its  shoulders  and  spine,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  change  the  position  of  its  whole  body,  in  order  to 
obtain  much  variety  in  the  direction  of  its  vision. 

The  nostrils  are  situated  between  the  eyes  and  the  snout 
they  are  double,  and  not  constructed  in  such  manner  as  to 
allow  the  water  to  pass  through  them  in  breathing,  that  func- 
tion being  periormed  entirely  by  the  gills.  Notwithstanding 
this,  smell  appears  to  be  the  most  acute  of  all  the  senses  in 
fish,  and  one  which  contributes  much  to  procuring  their  food. 

The  gill-covers,  in  the  generality  of  fish,  are-divided  into 
four  parts :  the  preopercle,  the  opercle,  or  gill -cover  proper, 
the  subopercle,  and  the  interopercle.  The  opercles  are  in- 
tended as  a  protection  to  the  delicate  organization  of  the 
gills  and  branchiostegous  rays,  and  open  and  close  as  the 
water  passes  through  them. 

That  brilliant  substance  which  imparts  a  metallic  lustre  of 
so  many  hues  to  fish,  is  secreted  in  the  dermis  or  skin, 
beneath  the  scales ;  the  scales  themselves  are  transparent,  and 
are  formed  of  a  homy  substance,  though,  in  some  families, 
the  outer  covering  is  of  a  bony  substance,  and  frequently 
covered  with  an  enamel.  The  "lateral  line,"  is  a  series  of 
perforated  scales,  which  extend  in  most  fish  from  the  gill- 
cover  to  the  root  of  the  tail. 

The  gills  consist  of  series  of  leaflets,  suspended  to  certain 
arches,  termed  "  Os  hyodes ;"  each  leaflet  is  covered  with  a 
tissue  of  innumerable  blood-vessels.  The  water  which  enters 
the  mouth  escapes  through  the  gills  posteriorly,  and  the  air 
contained  in  the  water  acts  on  the  blood,  which  is  constantly 
impelled  through  the  gills  from  the  heart.    The  venous  blood, 


i 


GENERAL    REMARKS    ON    PISH. 


68 


after  being  changed  into  arterial,  by  its  contact  with  the  air 
in  its  pussiige  through  tho  gills,  paases  into  the  arterial  trunk, 
situated  under  the  spine,  and  is  dispersed  by  diniiuishiu" 
blood-vessels,  through  the  body,  whence  it  returns  by  the 
veins  to  the  heart. 

As  Fish  breathe  through  the  intervention  of  water  alone, 
and  restore  to  their  blood  its  arterial  qualities,  by  means  of 
the  oxygen  which  is  suspended  in  the  water,  their  blood  is 
naturally  cold,  often  below  the  temperature  of  the  water  they 
inhabit.  Immediately  under  the  back  bone  is  the  air-bladder 
divided  into  two  lobes  or  parts,  which,  by  expansion  or 
compression,  enables  the  fish  to  change  its  specific  gravity, 
and  maintain  any  desired  elevation  in  the  water.  In  con- 
nection with  the  gills,  the  air-bladder  is  homologous  to  the 
lungs  in  land  animals. 

There  is  no  outward  ear  in  fishes;  in.. rnally  there  is  a 
sack  representing  the  vestibule,  filled  with  gelatinous  fluid. 
By  frequent  experiments,  Mr.  Eonalds,  the  author  of  "The 
Fly-Fisher's  Entymol.jgy,"  ascertained  that  trout  are  not  dis- 
turbed by  frequent  and  heavy  discharges  of  firearms,  if  the 
flash  of  the  gun  is  concealed,  and  justly  holds  in  derision,  the 
notion,  that   fish   are   frightened  by  persons  talking   on   a 
stream.     They  arc  more  easily  startled  by  the  sudden^ar  of  a 
heavy  tramp  on  an  ov  rhangiug  bank,  or  a  thump  on  the 
bottom  of  a  boat ;  the  vibration  from  either  of  these  causes, 
acting  on  the  nerves  generally,  rather  than  on  the  ear  of  the 
fish.     There  are  instances  recorded,  however,  where  fish  have 
been  called  by  the  riugmg  of  a  bell,  or  a  familiar  voice. 

There  are  no  organs  of  voice  in  fish  ;  though  some,-as  the 
Weakfish,  Croaker,  Oatfish,  and  Drum,  make  a  croaking 
noise  when  taken  from  the  water,  but  these  sounds  are  en" 
tirely  guttural. 

The  sense  of  taste  is  necessarily  deficient,  or  wholly  want- 


64 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


iiig ;  tlie  tongues  of  SDrno  spocios  uro  nothing  moro  than  hard 
cartihigo,  in  uthons  tho  tongue  in  annod  with  teeth.  None  iiuve 
the  .salivary  ghinds  to  lubricate  the  parts  with  the  moisture 
necessary  to  tlie  sensation  of  taste. 

The  sense  of  feeling  is  coulined  almost  entirely  to  tho  nose; 
most  iish  being  covered  with  scales,  which  are  of  a  horny  or 
bony  substance,  with  as  little  sensation  as  a  man's  linger-nails. 
In  some,  as  the  southern  Garfish,  the  scales  are  enamelled,  and 
it  is  said,  resist  a  bullet  if  not  fired  point  blank.  The  Cattish, 
and  uls(j  the  Barb  (a  species  of  Umhrina)  have  barbels  or 
cirri,  by  which  they  appear  to  detect  the  nature  of  substances 
and  whether  they  be  food  or  not.  These  organs  of  touch,  as 
they  may  be  termed,  are  provided  by  nature  to  assist  them  in 
their  nocturnal  search,  or  groping  in  deep  water  for  food. 

Yarrell,  in  his  work  on  the  Fishes  of  Great  Britain,  says: 
"  There  are  external  openings  to  each  nostril,  surrounded  by 
several  orifices,  which  allow  the  escape  of  a  mucous  secretion. 
These  apertures  are  larger  and  more  numerous  about  tho 
heads  of  fishes  gimerally,  than  over  tho  other  parts;  the 
viscous  secretion  defendiiiij;  the  skin  from  the  action  of  the 
water.  Whether  the  fish  inhabits  stream  or  lake,  the  current 
of  the  water  in  one  instance,  or  progression  through  it  in  the 
other,  carries  this  defensive  secretion  backwards,  and  diffuses 
it  over  thj  whole  body.  In  fishes  with  small  scales,  this 
secretion  is  in  proportion  more  abundant." 

The  latter  part  of  the  above  quotation  sufficiently  explains 
the  presence  of  a  largo  supply  of  this  mucous  secretion  uu 
Trout  and  Catfish,  and  the  increased  quantity  of  slime  on  Eels. 
Teeth,  with  which  fish  are  generally  well  supplied,  are  not 
not  only  serviceable  in  seizing  their  prey,  but  by  their 
peculiar  position  and  form  assist  them  in  swallowing  it. 
Teeth  are  found  in  many  genera  on  the  maxillaries,  inter- 
maxillaries,  palatine,  vomer,  and  tongue;  son  uptimes  also  on 


flNEKAL    REMARKS    ON   FISH. 


05 


the  arches  of  the  gills,  us  i,.  the  Piko;  but  only  ou  the  pbu- 
ryngeul  bone  of  tho  Chub-apparoutly  backiug  the  u^scrtion 
ot  the  httlo  boy,  who  said  it  had  " swallowed  its  tot-th." 

Tooth  are  of  somo  i.nportaiioo  to  the  naturalist,  in  del  - 
mimng  gonora  uud  species.  The  observing  angler  will  know 
from  them,  tho  habits  of  fish,  wholiier  they  are  prodnt  ,ry  or 
1  ve  ou  vegetable  substances,  or  by  crushing  moUu  ...  a.d 
Crustacea, 

Fish  .hod  their  teeth,  the  new  coming  up  beneath  the  old 
and  d'  4  Miu^  them,  or  tlio  new  tooth  appears  at  the  side 
pushi.  g  out  f,l,    .Id  one  and  occupying  its  place. 

The  ii^u   bur. J  so  different  in  its  structure  and  internal 
organizai.  a  from  land  v.>rtobrates,.and  inhabiting'  a  cold,  dense 
element,  must  necessarily  ditler  also  in  its  einotional  iiature 
It  IS  coldly  obtuse  in  its  sexual  emotions,  and  in  its  cares  or 
joys  of  maternity;  no  feeling  of  friendship  attac^ies  it  to  a 
higher  being,  as  with  the  dog.     With  blunted  sense  of  hear- 
ing  an.l    Noiceless,    no   call   of  mate   attr..cts    it,   ,,v  draws 
'  forth  response,  as  in  the  bird.     And  in  the  dense  medium 
through  which  it  looks,  no  object  delights  its  lidles.  eye 
Reproducing  its  species,  or  migrating  in  obedience  to  a  law 
of  Its  nature,  it  appears  with  many  faniilies,    .  if  condemned 
to  roam  the  wastes  of  ocean,  or  lie  torpidly  in  silent  depths, 
until  storm  or  hunger  or  enemy  incites  it  to  activity. 

Yet  tills  class  of  animals,  so  cold,  so  dull  in  its  sensations- 
IS  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  wonderful  of  th.  Almbrhty's 
creations-nothing   exceeds   it   in   its   symmetrical    propor- 
tions;  no  form   so  well   adapted   for   motion   throu-h   the 
element  it  inhabits;  no  organs  of  motion  so  well  contrived 
for  imparting  rapid  and  easy  progress  as  its  fins;  no  bur- 
nished  or  molten  silver,  or  gold,  more   brilliant  than  the 
varied  reflections  of  its  sides ;  no  armor  so  light,  or  so  well 
adapted  to  its  wearer,  as  its  lustrous  scales.    It  will  always 


56 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


remain  an  object  of  interest  to  man,  from  its  beauty,  the 
strangeness  of  its  habits,  tlie  mystery  of  its  haunts,  and  its 
trackless  wanderings. 

Ichthyology.— To  the  angler,  this  is  the  most  interesting 
of  the  natural  sciences.  It  received  little  attention  until  the 
time  of  Linnaeus.  Afterwards  Cuvier,  by  a  more  natural  and 
judicious  classification,  divided  the  Ichthyic  class  into  Orders, 
Families,  Genera,  and  Species,  which  has  been  adopted  in  the 
main,  by  all  ichthyologists  who  have  succeeded  him. 

Of  the  four  orders  established  by  Professor  Agassiz,  already 
mentioned  in  reference  to  pakeontology ;  the  two  last,  Ctenoids 
and  Cycloids  only,  come  properly  within  the  scope  of  the 
angler's  ichthyology. 

The  Ctenoids'  are  those  whose  scales  are  pectinated  on  the 
edges ;  these  comprise  all  the  Acanthoptherygii,  which  em- 
brace the  Perch  family ;  and  a  few  of  the  Malacopterygii. 
The  Cycloids  have  scales  with  a  continuous  margin,  and 
include  most  of  the  Mahwopterygii,  or  at  least  thoy>>  with 
which  the  angler  has  to  do. 

The  term  ■  Acanthopterygii"  is  derived  from  the  Greek 
words,  acantha,  a  thorn,  and  i^terrugion,  a  little  feather. 
"Malaco])terygii"  has  its  origin  in  the  Greek  word  ma /aco«, 
soft.  The  wood-cut  on  the  next  page  is  introduced  to  eluci|late 
the  diiference  between  these  two  divisions,  and  to  exphdn  at 
the  same  time  the  position  of  the  different  fins,  and  their 
scientific  names. 

The  upper  figure  represents  the  outline  of  a  Trout,  one  of 
the  Malacopterygii ;  the  lower,  that  of  our  White  Perch,  one 
of  the  Acanthopterygii.  The  first  fin  on  the  back  of  either 
figure  is  the  first  dorsal;  the  second  back  fin  is  the  stcond 
dorsal;  the  fins  just  behind  the  gill-covers  are  the  pectorals  - 
the  ventral  fins  in  the  Malacopterygii  are  about  midway  on 


GENERAL   REMARKS    ON  PISH. 


57 


the  belly;  m  the  Acamhopterygii,  they  are  just  below  the 
pectorals,  or  very  near  them;  the  anal  iin  in  both  is  just 
behind  the  anus  or  vent;  the  caudal,  the  hindmost  fin  is 
commonly  called  the  tail. 


Of  fish  that  come  under  the  notice  of  the  angler,  the  Mala- 
copterygii  embrace  those  that  are  called  "  abdominal^  from 
having  the  ventral-fms  on  the  belly.     The  Acanthopterygii 
include  the  "  thoracic^  which   have   the  ventrals   ftear  the 
throat.     Some  flimilies  of  the  former  division  have  only  one 
dorsal  fin,  others  two.  and  son-.o  even  three,  as  the  Codfish. 
The  Acanthopterygii  have  either  one  of  two  dorsals;  if  only 
one,  the  anterior  rays  are  spir.ous,  and  the  posterior  soft  and 
flexible ;  if  they  have  two  dorsals,  *he  first  is  com.posed  of 
sharp  spines,  and  the  second  of  rays,  or  one  or  two  spines 
followed  by  soft  rays :  this  division  has  also  one  or  more 
spines  on  the  pectorals  and  on  the  anal  fin.     With  the  excep- 
tion  of  the  Salmonidw  and  Esoculie.  nearly  all  of  the  game- 
fish  the  angler  meets  with,  belong  to  the  Acanthopterygii. 
The  Acanthopterygii  belong  to  the  order  of  Ctenoids,  a°nd 
the  Malacopterygii  mostly  to  the  Cycloids. 


58 


AMERICAN    ANGLKK'S    BOOK. 


The  reader  will  observe  the  peculiar  shape  of  the  second 
dorsal  of  the  first  figure ;  it  is  one  of  the  characteristic  marks 
of  the  Salmonidee.  No  other  fomily  the  angler  meets  with, 
has  it  except  the  Siluridse  (Catfish).  This  fin  is  adipose, 
generally  opaque,  and  without  rays — being  nothing  more 
than  a  flexible  cartilage. 

The  first  figure  of  the  annexed  wood-cut  represents  a  front 
view  of  the  open  mouth  of  one  of  the  species  of  the  Salmon 
family,  and  shows  the  position  of  the  teeth.  Those  along  the 
centre  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  above  1,  are  on  the  vomer ; 
those  on  the  sides  above  2,  are  on  the  palate ;  those  around  3 
are  the  pharyngeal  teeth  ;  those  on  the  edge  of  the  upper  jaw, 
are  tiie  upper  or  super  maxillaries ;  and,  those  on  the  edge 
of  the  lower  jaw,  the  lower  or  inferior  maxillaries. 


The  second  figure  of  the  same  plate  shows  the  anatomical 
structure  of  the  head,  including  a  side  view  of  the  teeth. 
1  is  the  preopercle  or  fi^e  gill-cover;  2,  the  opercle  or  gill- 
cover  pro})er ;  3,  the  subopercle  or  under  gill-cover ;  4,  the 
interopercle  of  intermediate  gill-cover ;  and  5,  the  branchios- 
I'gous  rays,  or,  as  they  are  more  generally  termed,  the 
branchial  ravs. 

\iy  reference  to  the  foregoing  wood-cuts,  and  reading  with 
some  care,  scientific  descriptions  of  fish,  an  angler  may  be 
able  to  describe  anj^  species,  which  may  be  unknown  to  him, 


««»«E4L  KEMAKItS   ON  PISH. 


59 


mth  sufficient  accuracy,  for  the  uaturalisi  to  refer  it  to  it» 
f-imily,  genus,  and  species. 

Any  description  of  „  fish,  is  of  course  rendered  more  intelli. 
.bte  by  an  accompanying  sicctch,  even  if  it  is  rudely  done. 
And  tf  the  „ng  cr  will  de^ribe.  as  accurately  as  he  can, 
e  genera   outhuc  and  forn, ;  the  proportions  of  the  length 
of  th    head  to  that  of  its  body  (exclusive  of  th3  tail);  its 
breadth,  as  compared  with  its  length,  its  color,  .narking  ,  and 
the  course  of  the  lateral  line;  the  gilLcover  and  fore  .i^ 
cover,  whether  cither  or  both  have  scales,  and  on  which  tlcy 
are  largest-mentioning  also,  if  the  gilLcover  ha,  spines  on 
.ts  posterior  margin;  the  number  of  branchial  rays,  fin  rays 
and  spme.,  also  the  color  of  the  ,i„s ;  the  dental  arrjngemen  ' 
M  then  the  general  local  nan.es:  he  may  contribut:  m    h 
that  w.  I  be  .nteresting  to      .  ,rs,  while  it  will  be  a  source 
of  satisfaction  to  himself. 

Linna.us  received  his  description  of  American  fishes  from 
D.        rdon,    of  South   Carolina.     B.och,  and   Schoef  (who 
«s      surgeon  .„  the  British  army,  during  the  American 
Bcvolution)  as  well  as  C.atcsby,  contributed,  though  mea^reTy 
to     ur  .chthyology.    The  descriptions  of  the  latter  Cr^ 
mo.,  ly  of  the  fish  of  the  Caribbean  .Sea,  a..d  our  Soutre™ 
co.as  .    In  1820,  Rafinesquc,  a  French  naturalist,  pnbrhed  ™ 
Lexington  Kent.icky,  an  account  of  the  flshe    of  th     Ohb 
and  Its  tributaries.    His  nomen.laturo,  as  well  .as  his  mode  of 
description  and  classification,  differs  from  that  of  Cuvier    hi 
descriptions,  generally  are  not  minute,  but  .somo  of  them  are 
.nteresting.     His  work  is  not  illustrated  by  drawing.,.     J, 
gave  Lacepede  descripMons  of  some  species  found  in  ou 
.valors.    In  18U,  Dr.  Mitchil,  of  l.ew  York,  entered  wth 
.ome  z.,.al  into  the  work;  and,  in  periodicals,  described  more 
spcc.es  than  had  been  before  noticed. 
lu  188ti,  D,-.  Kicha.d»on  produced  his   -Fauna  Boreali  ' 


60 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


which  includes  some  of  our  Northern  genera.  Dr.  Storer,  in 
1839,  published  an  able  report  of  the  fishes  of  Massachusetts. 
De  Witt  Clinton,  Mr.  Wood,  of  Philadelphia,  Eedfield  and 
Haldeman,  also  contributed  to  this  branch  of  natural  science. 
It  was  reserved,  however,  for  Dr.  De  Kay  to  give  the  first 
elaborate  description  of  American  fish,  which  he  did  by 
authority  of  the  state  of  New  York  in  1842 ;  his  work  is 
illustrated  by  engravings  that  are  badly  colored,  and  some  of 
them  are  incorrectly  drawn.  He  enumerates  thirty-two  fami- 
lies, one  hundred  and  fifty-six  genera,  and  four  hundred  and 
forty  species.  His  description  includes  the  Lacustrine  genera, 
as  well  as  those  of  the  coast  of  New  York.  Amongst  the 
latter  are  many  that'  are  emigrants  from  Southern  waters, 
which  fact  he  fails  to  note.  Dr.  Ilolbrook,  of  Charleston,  has 
recently  published  an  interesting  work  on  the  fishes  of  South 
Carolina,  which  is  of  much  interest  to  the  angler,  as  it  con- 
tains an  account  of  the  habits,  as  well  as  scientific  descrip- 
tions of  many  game-fish,  common  to  this  latitude  and  the 
Western  States.  His  work  is  beautifully  illustrated  with 
colored  engravings.  Girard,  Gill,  and  Professor  Spencer  P. 
Baird,  of  tlie  Smithsonian  Institute,  have  recently  made 
valuable  additions  to  American  ichthyology. 

In  closing  these  observations  on  the  natural  history  of  fish, 
it  is  proper  to  remark,  tliat  they  are  those  of  a  mere  angler, 
who  aspires  to  no  place  ainongst  the  learned  doctors,  and  who 
has  picked  up  such  information,  as  he  has  imparted  to  the 
general  reader,  from  the  books  of  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences,  and  from  his  own  observations  noted  here  and 
there,  as  any  fish  thnt  takes  a  bait  has  interested  him.  He 
presents  what  is  here  written  with  the  hope  of  inciting  other 
anglers  to  a  study  of  the  fishes  that  aftbrd  so  much  pleasure 
in  the  taking  of  them. 


er,  n\ 
setts. 
.  and 
lence. 

first 
a  by 
rk  is 
ae  of 
fami- 
i  and 
mera, 
t  the 
aters, 
1,  has 
iouth 

con- 
scrip-  ^1  CHAPTER    IE  I. 
I  the 

with 
er  F. 
made 


Ffish, 
igler, 
I  who 
o  the 
itural 
and 
He 
other 
asure 


r^OKLE   IN   GENEBAL 


"  Let  mj  tell  you,  Scholnr,  that  Diogono.!  wolkod  on  a  dny,  with  a 
friend,  to  sen  a  country  fair  ;  wliero  lie  saw  iPil.oiis,  and  looliing-BlaoHes, 
and  nut  era  kors,  and  fiddles,  and  liol)by.lior...vi,  and  man,  other  gini-' 
cracks;  an  .1,  j^  (i served  tlioni,  and  all  the  ..tlior  flnnlnibnins  that 
make  a  complete  r.untry  n.ir;  lie  said  to  his  fri,„d,  "  I,„rd,  haw  many 
things  art  there  in  this  world  of  which  Diogenes  hath  no  need!" 

Waliox. 


CHAPTER    III. 

TACKLE   IN  GENERAL. 

Hook8.-Sinker«._Swivel8.-Gut.-Leadcrs.-Snood8.-Line8.-Reela. 

Rods. — Bow  Dipays. 

In  these  observations  it  would  be  well  to  have  some  set- 
tled plan  or  ordei-  in  which  Tackle  should  be  mentioned- 
I  have,  therefore,  thought  it  better  to  commence  at  the  bot' 
torn  and  go  upwards. 

HooKS—Of  the  various  kind  of  hooks  sold  in  this  country 

the  Kirbv  is  mostly  used.     The  point  of  this  hook  is  not 

ui  the  same  plane  with  the  shank,  but  is  bent  to  one  side 

and  IS  therefore   less  apt  to   draw  from  the  mouth  of  the 

fish  without  hookin. .  than  the  Limerick.     There  are  several 

varieties  of  the  Kirby ;  those  made  with  short  shanks  and 

of  stout  wire  (some  of  which  have  flattened  heads),  are  most 

appropriate  for  fishing  with  dead  bait,  or  where  the  fish  are 

large,  or  their  mouths  hard. 

The  long-shanked  Kirby  is  to  be  preferred  for  live-bait 
fisliing,  or  where  much  nicety  is  required  in  putting  on  a 
worm,  brandling,  or  grasshopper :  they  are  made  of  fin°e  wire, 
and  tlu.  barb  not  so  rank  as  the  Limerick.  These  are  some' 
Limes  called  "Weak  Trout  Hooks"  by  tackle  venders. 
Limerick  hooks,  although  preferred  by  many  on  account 

(63) 


64 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  their  superior  temper,  are  better  adapted  to  tying  flies  on, 
than  for  bait-hooks. 

The  O'Sliaujrhnessy  differs  materially  from  the  common 
Limerick,  in  the  shape  of  the  bend,  and  in  the  direction 
of  its  point,  which  sets  out  at  a  slight  angle  from  the 
shank ;  it  is  much  surer  of  hooking  than  the  old  Limerick, 
and  is  preferred  by  all  anglers  who  tie  their  own  flies. 
Salmon  hooks  of  this  shape,  some  of  which  are  hammered 
after  being  bent,  are  highly  esteemed  by  Salmon  fishers. 
Trout  hooks  of  the  O'Shaughnessy  shape,  are  sometimes  mado 
of  very  fine  wire,  lightness  being  a  desideratum  in  artificial 
flies,  particularly  in  droppers. 

The  Limerick  hook,  as  its  name  implies,  as  well  as  the 
O'Shaughnessy,  which  bears  the  name  of  its  original  maker, 
were  made  first  in  Limerick,  Ireland.  They  have  since  been 
imitated  and  made  at  a  much  lower  price  in  England, 
where  most  of  the  hooks  known  by  these  names  are  now 
manufactured;  they  are  not  as  well  tempered,  though,  as  the 
Irish  hooks. 

The  "  Sneck  bend"  is  much  used  by  fly-fishers  in  Scotland, 
though  I  have  failed  to  discover  its  merits.  The  peculiarity 
of  this  hook  consists  in  its  bend,  whica  assumes  more  the 
form  of  the  three  sides  of  a  square  than  a  continuous  curve. 
I  have  never  heard  or  read  of  any  plausible  reason  for  its 
shape. 

The  "  Virginia  hook,"  it  is  said,  was  first  made  by  a  black- 
smith named  Eivere,  in  the  lower  part  of  Virginia,  and  at 
one  time  Avas  held  in  much  esteem  by  bait  fishermen,  on 
account  of  its  strength  and  supposed  adaptability  to  fish  of  all 
sijjcs.  Its  peculiarity  consists  in  its  shape  and  the  tapering 
of  tlie  steel  from  the  top  of  the  shank  to  the  bend.  I  have 
reason  for  doubts  as  to  the  person  and  place  of  its  invention. 


TACKLE    IN    GENBR 


AL. 


ds 


,Ker, 


6 


TACKLE   in  OENEIl*!,. 


97 


«      uvo  6  u„<l  th„,„  „„„,„„„  ,,  ji,„,i„^^ 
h.  ...ns,  „.  an  e„riy  p„ri«l  of  ,n^  f,,,,;,,^  „    ,„i„„„^. 
It ..  s.«    that  Priuco  Knpcrt  flr,t  taught  .he  art  of  tern- 

72^: : ': "  ""-""''^  ™^-°f  ^-^"■'  -^^  *■  ™me 

W       *',^'""'';r'  -  """.monly  „,ed.    Sir  Humphrey 

oecdcd  m  makmg  l,„oi«  which  did  .hom  good  aorvicc. 

T  ere  arc  other  hook,  kept  by  the  tackle  store,  which  wa 
thmk  .t  unnecessary  to  describe  here;  as,  double-hooks,  eel- 
hooks,  .      p-hooks,  «Wofay„,  io.,   ,„„,j  „j. 
worth  the  notice  of  the  angler. 

On  the  plate  of  hooks  o°n  the  opposite  page,,  the  top  row  • 
represents  the  O'Shaughncssy.    Commencing  on  the  righl 
the  first  size  is  No.  2,  and  then  4  6  8  and  10  i„ 
towards  the  left.  '  '  '"  ^"°°«»'<»' 

In  the  second  row.  No.  1  is  „  short-shanked  Kirby  No  2 
the^old  style  Limerick ;  No.  8  a  Sneek  bend ;  No.  4  aJ  Aber 

The  third  is  a  row  of  Salmon  hooks,  the  sizes  aecordin.  to 
th    Stan  ard  adopted  by  the  author  of  "The  Book  of  "the 

No.  8  and  the  smallct  No.  10.   There  are  inlermediate  si.es 
2  w<'ll  a,  three  sizes  larger  than  No.  4,  viz.:  S.  2        ^ 

JNos.  7  ,in    3  being  the  prmcipal  size.,. 

Ki?b?-     I""'".'"'?  °  '■»  "  "Shanghai,"  6  .,  long-shanked 

K.rby,  ,  a  V,r.,n,a  hook,  and  8  a  stout  short-shanked  Kirbv 

J  he  two  nmuuning  iig,.:.es  are  Swivels;  the  one  '     the 


Ho«H  „„cl,  he  „  .,  p„pa,,d  e,pre,sly  for  thi,  book. 


68 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'B    BOOK. 


right   is  a  "hook"  Swivol,  and   that  on  the  left  a  "box" 
Swiv«!l. 

Sinkers.— In  bottom  or  bait  fishing,  ainkera  of  various  sizes 
and  si  I  pes  are  used;  the  woiglit  proportioned  to  the  tidt  or 
ourruut.  Those  in  general  use  are  s{)lit  shot.  The  sliding- 
sinker  is  oblong  with  a  hole  running  longitudinally  through 
the  eentre.  The  advantage  of  this  is,  that  tlie  bait  may  drift 
off  with  the  tide  while  the  sinker  is  comparatively  at  rest. 
The  swivel  sinker  is  a  combination  of  sinker  and  swivel, 
which  allows  the  snood  and  bait  to  revolve;  it  is  seldom  used. 

In  bottom  fishing  or  trolling  deep,  where  the  bottom  is 
rocky,  the  sinker  is  apt  to  be  caught  foul.  To  provide 
against  loss  of  leader  and  hooks,  in  such  cases,  it  is  better  to 
have  the  sinker  attached,  where  the  leader  joins  the  line,  by 
a  piece  of  weak  gut  or  thread ;  so  that  the  angler,  if  he  is 
obliged  to  pull  away  at  the  risk  of  losing  some  of  his  bottom 
tackle,  may  only  lose  his  sinker. 

Swivels  are  necessary  when  the  bait  is  required  to  spin 
or  revolve.  The  box-swivel  is  used  by  looping  the  leader  c . 
bottom  through  one  ring  and  the  line  through  the  other.  When 
it  is  necessary  to  disengage  the  bait  and  snood  from  the  leader, 
as  in  trolling  for  Pike,  the  hook-swivel  is  convenient,  and  in 
many  cases  indispensable.  All  bottom  fishers  and  trollers 
should  be  well  supplied  with  these  useful  little  articles ;  steel 
swivels  should  be  used  for  fresh-water,  and  brass  swivels  for 
salt-water  fishing. 

Floats  are  made  of  cork,  hollow  wood,  or  (^uills,  of  a  great 
variety  of  shapes  and  sizes.  The  quill  is  preferred  for  Roach, 
Chub,  and  other  fish  that  bite  delicately.  The  size  of  the 
float  should  always  be  regulated  by  the  weight  of  the  sinker  • 
the  shape  is  a  matter  of  fancy.  I  have  whittled  shapely  floats 
out  of  the  bark  of  a  pine  tree. 

Gut  Leaders,  Snoods.  Traces,  &c.— Silk-worm  gut,  which 


TACKLE   IN   GENERAL. 


.f"  '"    h".-™  ■»  a„  im,„alure  «.„.„,  „,„,  i,  „„„,„  ^y 
st.0,,,..  *a  ,„«.t  i„  vinegar  or  »o,„.  other  .ei„,  „  ,„ort 

;;'"  "^  t  »  "--^     I'  i«  'l.o„  dive.ted  of  any  ex. 

Spa  ,„  and  luly,  ,„  ,,a„k,  „f  ,.  h„„„,„„  „.^„„,^_  „^,,  ^^^     ^ 
a     t,,„  .aekle  store,  the  price  varying  according  to  it.  .,iz' 

°„f    ■  T  ;"""'"""■    ^  """""n"  »"-"  informed  me  once 
hat  he  l„,d  produced  the  veritable  article,  by  stretchin,.  ont 
1.0  >vor,„s  after  steeping  them  in  vinegar,  L  seeuri„:    h 
head.  a„,l  ta.l.  in  notches  made  in  each  end  of  a  shin.de 

Though  „t  alway.  essential,  in  fine  a„g„„g  ;.  ;,  i„„i„,;„^„. 
blc.  It,  strength  ,s  astonishing,  as  every  angler  knows  from 
experience  It  .is  almost  transparent  in  water,  when  dyed  of 
aneural  fnt.    This  color  is  to  be  preferred  to  any  other 

LEAOERS-Although  double  g„t  and  twisted  g„t  leaders 

and  of  the  best  quaUty,  to  answer  every  demand  made  on  i 
by  the  strength  of  the  fish.    Single  gut  is  certainly  nite 
-1  -  en  .t  .s  borne  in  mind  that  the  spring  of  the  rod.  ad 
he  judtcous  use  of  the  reel,  contribnte  so  much  to  lesKe,    he 

gut  wh  ch  „11  bear  a  strain  of  five  pounds  would  secure  a 
tsh  of  a:iy  s,ze  he  may  be  lucky  enough  to  hook 

or  fly.fisoing,  the  gut  lengths  of  a  leader  should  always  be 

jomed  by  a  neat  knot,  the  double  knot  .s  preferable.     The 

eaders  sold  at  .he  tackle  stores,  generally  have  the  ends  of 

the  gut  secured  with  silk  lashings,  which  are  liable  to  fray 


70 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


out,  and  being  usaally  of  some  bright  tint,  deceive  the  fish 
into  rising  at  one  of  these  frayed  lashings  for  a  %,  and  indis- 
pose them  to  take  the  cheat  you  intended  for  them. 

On  a  subsequent  page,  the  reader  will  find  directions  for 
making  leaders  and  tying  gut,  with  descriptions  of  the  knots 
used  by  anglers  and  tackle  makers. 

Leaders,  bottoms,  and  snoods,  are  made  also  of  horsehair 
and  sometimes  of  "  gimp"  (the  article  of  which  the  coarse 
strings  of  violins  are  made).  The  latter  is  used  for  Pike, 
Bass,  Sheepshead,  Bluefish,  or  where  gut  is  liable  to  be 
frayed  by  coming  in  contact  with  sharp  rocks,  or  to  be  bitten 
off  by  the  fish. 

Anglers  who  have  not  the  skill  or  patience  to  tie  on  their 
own  hooks,  purchase  them  already  snooded  at  the  tackle 
stores.  A  more  economical  and  convenient  way  for  one  who 
can  tie  them  himself,  is  to  cut  up  a  gut  length  into  pieces  of 

two  or  three  inches— short  refuse  pieces  will  answer  as  well 

and  forming  a  short  loop,  seize  it  on  to  the  shank  of  the 
hook. 

In  leaders  ibr  fly-fishing,  the  gut  nearest  the  line  should 
be  stout,  each  length  diminishing  in  si.^e  to  the  finest  that 
can  be  procured,  whore  it  is  tied  to  the  stretcher  fly. 

Lines  are  made  of  flax  or  plaited  silk  for  bottom-fishino-  • 
flax  IS  preferred  wlien  it  is  necessary  to  make  a  long  cast,  as 
in  Bass  or  Pike-fishiug,  as  it  runs  more  freely  through  the 
rings  or  guides,  and  the  end  of  the  tip. 

Plaited  silk  is  to  be  used  invariably  for  trolling  from  a 
boat,  as  it  does  not  kink  in  passing  through  the  ^vater,  as  a 
twisted  line  is  apt  to  do. 

The  best  lines  for  fly-fishing  are  made  of  silk  and  hair; 
they  taper  gradually  from  the  end  which  you  attach  to  the 
axle  of  the  reel,  to  the  end  which  joins  the  leader.  I  wou'd 
here  remark,  that  in  fly-fishing,  the  usual  clumsy  loop,  oj  a 


TACKLE    IK  OENERAL. 


71 


knot  m  the  end  of  a  reeUine  should  be  dispensed  with  bv 
«o.z>„g  oti  a  length  of  stout  gut  to  the  end  of  the  line,  to  re 
mam  there  permanently ;  the  leader  should  be  attaehed  to  this 
p.coe  of  gut  with  a  neat  knot.  By  this  contrivance,  you 
avorf  he  contmgency  of  having  fish  rise  at  the  loop,  as  they 
will  at.  a  b.t  of  frayed  silk,  as  mentioned  on  the  preeeding 


th.  e!T  T.   "*■       "  ''"""''  ''"'^  "  S-"-'""?  «>i^'='  on 

loop  n,,,  end,  as  desenbed  in  our  article  on  tackle-making. 

Oiled-silk  piaited  lines  are  frequently  used  for  trolling  but 
more  generally  for  Salmon-fishing.  ^ 

EEEi,3_Many  innovations  have  been  made  on  the  old 
Engbsh  Boel  by  American  anglers  and  n.echanic;  some  of 
these,  It  ,s  contended,  are  not  improvements 

The  .alancchandle,  patent-check,  and  jewelled  bearings  of 
*e  modern  multiplier,  are  certainly  desiderata  in  reels  used 
for  Bass  and  are  now  considered  indispensable  by  crack 
fls  ers,  but  the  simple  reel  with  a  click' and  without  e 
balance  handle,  is  to  be  preferred  for  fly.iishi..g ;  it  i,  k,, 
h.xb.e  than  the  multiplier  to  get  out  of  "order  Td  th:    " 
.s  not  so  apt  to  be  caught  by  the  handle  or  crank.     An   im 
provement  ,„  Bngl.sh  Salmon-reels  has  been  lately  Iml 
.Inccd,  which  precludes  the  possibility  of  the  I,.  ..r  comin 
gency:  n  «  the  insertion  of  a  short  handle  or  pin  n,  a  disk 
revolving  parallel  to.  and  agai„.,t  the  outer  plate;"  ,h  J  it' 
P  ovement  is  applicable  only  to  simple  reels  for  fly.flshin" 

on  Jackie  for  Salnnra-fishing. 

Some  anglers  prefer  the  multiplier  even  for  flyfishing  on 
lecount  of  its  enabling  them  to  .■■.orten  line  faste  i  a  Lu^ 
on  being  hooked  should  run  towards  them.  Th  eldom 
liappens  ,„  wading  a  brook  or  creek;  but  ,n  deep,  sti  1  :  e" 


¥■ 

'S  'iii 


72 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


where  the  angler  fishes  from  a  boat,  and  large  trout  endanger 
his  tackle,  such  a  necessity  sometimes  arises. 

Whether  it  be  a  multiplier  or  simple  reel,  in  fly-fishing  for 
Trout,  it  should  be  small ;  for  a  greater  length  than  twenty 
yards  of  line  is  seldom  if  ever  required. 

By  the  aid  of  the  balance-handle  (an  American  inven- 
tion which  helps  to  keep  up  the  momentum  when  the  bait 
is  cast),  reels  have  been  made  to  run  Avith  so  little  friction, 
*  that  the  motion  imparted  by  a  whirl  of  the  crank,  with  the 
hand,  causes  the  spool  to  revolve  for  two  minutes.  The 
bearings  of  the  more  costly  reels  are  made  of  jewels.  I  know 
of  one  made  by  an  amateur  mechanic,  without  the  jewels, 
which  will  run  for  a  minute  and  a  half.  Eeels  of  this  kind 
are  used  mostly  by  Bass-fishers,  who  make  long  casts,  wdien 
it  is  desirable  that  the  line  should  run  out  as  freely  as 
possible. 

In  all  reels  a  sliort  axle  is  to  be  preferred,  as  it  enables  one 
to  wind  up  the  line  quicker  and  more  compactly  on  the 
spool. 

A  well-made  reel  does  not  jar  or  clatter,  but  while  the 
journals  fit  nicely,  they  run  easily  in  their  bearings,  and  the 
inner  plates  of  the  spool  revolve  without  friction  in  the  outer. 

Rods. — Although  rods  are  still  imported  from  England, 
and  those  made  by  her  celebrated  tackle-makers  are  thoiight 
by  many  to  possess  some  qualities  not  found  in  American 
rods,  the  latter  as  a  general  rule  are  equal  to  the  English, 
and  in  many  respects  better  adapted  to  the  requirements  of 
our  anglers ;  the  metallic  tip  and  guides  being  preferred  by 
all  (in  any  but  fly-rods)  to  the  English  mode  of  having  rings 
for  the  line  to  pass  through,  and  the  usual  wire  loop  at  the 
tip.  In  bass,  pike,  and  trolling  rods,  they  are  now  con- 
sidered indispensable,  as  the  line  passes  through  with  less 
friction,  and  in  casting,  the  line  is  less  apt  to  get  foul. 


.^ 


TACKLE    IN  OENBRAt. 


78 


There  i«  a  divorritj  of  opinion  as  to  the  weight  and  length 

fancy  ™"°"  ""''  °'  "''""«■  ''  '^  """"^  »  '-"-of 

The  wood,  in  general  use  are  ash  for  the  butt,  hickory  for 

for  the  up,;  of  course  they  should  be  well  seasoned. 

The  best  materials  for  a  fly.rod,  are  ash  for  the  butt,  iron- 
wood  for  the  middle  joint,  and  bamboo  for  the  tip 

Hy^ods  in  three  pieces  are  to  be  preferred,  as  they  require  • 

Strott'r 

h     iis  wnole  length.     It  i.s  better  for  those  who  have 
pafenee  aud  knack,  to  join  the  tip  to  the  middle  piece  whh 
neat  splt^,  ^^p,,  ,,;,,  ,„„^^_  ^^„^^^^^^  J     -^^  a 

only  one  ferule  necessary.  ° 

The  angler  whose  park  of  artillery  consists  of  one  piece  of 

Tot::..:  :^irr::.:r ,"  -  ---■  -  -^  ^ 

together  for  trolling,  for  bait-fishing,  and  should  occasion  c^U 

!  '""'"'°'""-  .^  «»-»•  ™<'.  if  made  in  pieces  of  two  fee. 
can  be  eonven,e„..v  carried  in  a  travelling  trunk-  i,  "It 

ou  the  usual  wooden  sockets.    By  dispensing  with  the  htter 
--™..W  ..rules  short,  the  elast,city:f  .1,0  ro:::t 

c ut  kn  ds  of  fl,sh,ng,  as  I  describe  each  RA  and  the  manner 
of  angltng  for  ,t;  and  advi.se  that  the  ta  rod  should  be 
bought  for  any  or  each  kind  of  Ashing;  though,  let  me  Lre 
-y,  the  most  expensive  is  not  always  the  ukJ  suitable 

The  ...w  Dn..,y._A  friend  has  lately  shown  mo  a  Chines; 
.ontrtvance,  which  was  brought  over  many  years  sine  byl 


74 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


old  East  India  merchant;  it  may  have  caused  the  introduo 
tion  of  ihe  "bow-dipsy"  in  Philadelphia.     This  is  a  piece  of 
whalebone  bent  at  right  angles,  each  side  or  arm  being  iifteen 
to  eighteen  inches  in  length,  with  a  snood  attached  to  the 
ends.     It  is  lowered  to  the  bottom  by  means  of  a  hand-line, 
and  a  conical  leaden  sinker  fastened  ten  or  twelve  inches 
beneath  the  angle.     It  is  well  adapted  for  taking  small  fish 
in  any  rapid  tideway  (especially  White  Perch),  where  they 
•  collect  in  schools  and  bite  rapidly.     It  is  braced  by  lateral 
pieces  of  cord,  which  cause  the  whalebone  to  give  and  resume 
its  position  as  the  fish  takes  the  bait— making  it  almost  sure 
to  hook  him.     I  have  heard  of  forty  dozen  White  Perch 
being  taken  in  the  Delaware  by  three  fishermen,  in  the  last 
two   hours  of  an   ebb-tide,   with  this  strange-looking   con- 
trivance. 

The  tackle  used  exclusively  in  fly-fishing,  I  will  mention 
under  its  appropriate  head,  in  a  subsequent  article. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  superfluous  tackle  pictured  and 
described  in  English  books  on  angling.    There  is  the  clearing 
ring,  the  angler's  friend  (a  curved  blade  sharpened  on  the 
inner  edge),  baiting-needle,  disgorger,  paternoster,  kill-devil, 
a  plummet  to  get  the  depth  of  water,  &c.,  &c.,  which  would 
better  grace  the  window  of  a  tackle  shop,   or  a   museum 
of  useless  tackle  than  an  angler's  wallet.     It  is  amusing  and 
even  wonderful,  what  an  amount  of  such  stuff  an  ardent,  green 
angler,  whh  a  flush  pocket,  can  collect.     As  he  grows  older 
in  the  art,  of  course  he  throws  it  away,  or  imposes  it  as  a 
present  on  some  one  no  less  verdant   than  he  was  himself  a 
Ibvv   summers   before,  exclaiming  with  that  ancient  philoso- 
t)lier :  •'  Lord,  how  many  things  there  are  in  this  world  of 
which  Diogenes  hath  no  need  I" 


CHAPTER   JV 
THE   PERCH  FAM£l.r 


m 


"  As  inward"  lovo  bropdo  outward  talk, 
The  liouiid  Konic  jinilMo,  aiiil  sdiiio  the  hawk: 
Some  bettor  pleiused  with  private  upoi  £, 
Use  tennis,  sonio  a  mistress  eonrt : 
But  tlipse  dellnlit.s  I  iicitli' r  wish, 
Nor  envy,  while  I  freely  f^sh. 

"Who  hunts,  dotli  oft  in  diint;i  v   t  la; 

Who  liawks,  lures  oil  lidth  far  (,.iJ  wiite; 

Who  uses  uaines,  shall  often  ])!>j\a 

A  loser;  but  who  falls  ill  lovo, 

Ie  fettered  in  fond  Cupid's  snare 
My  angle  broods  mo  no  such  .^or^ 


"Of  recreation  there  is  none 
So  free  as  flsiiint;  is  alone: 
All  other  pastimes  do  no  less 
Than  mind  and  body  both  possess: 
My  hand  alone  my  work  inn  do, 
So  I  can  fish  and  study  too." 


Waliow, 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  PERCH  FAMILY-PEROID^. 

General  Remarks  ON  THE  PFBf<m^ 
and  specic-Paucitvof  Eur  f  ^'^*  °'^™^'^'- ^^  A'-"can  genera 

Thpir  nK      .  ^       European  Specie8.-Di8tingui8hin.r  marks 

Ta.  E.cKp,s„  „r  Stmpkb  B.s,.    mra,  i.„«„,._E„elfeh  Taekl. 
R«ckh.l„»g  „„  u,e  lo«r  H,ppaha„„„ok.  '" 

Black  Bass  of  the  Liirps      a^,,  4       •     ■ 

MiE  i.AKEs.     Grysies  mgncans.^TioUiacr  for  Blaok  Ro=- 
^  with  spoon,  and  ^yith  ;irtif5c?.i  flies.  ^  ^"' 

The  Stru'bd  Lai    o*  tup  Om-      t-^a         t 
iHE  Short  Striped  ?ak-. 
Oswego  B.-.ss. 

The  Crapp.e  or  Sac-a-lai.    PomoxJs  hexacanthus. 
The  Yellow  Barred  Perch.     Percaflavesceus. 
iHE  SuNFisH  or  Sunny.    Pomotls  vuhjaris 

sav?  ,'^^^'  "''°''  ""^  ™  '°''"'y»>°8>-  -3  published  i„  1846 
say.  there  „re  more  than  sixty  genera  and  six  hundred 
speo.cs  of  i.ererd»  known  a,  .hat  .i„,e.    How  .any  nlw 

(77) 


78 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


species  have  been  added  to  the  number  since,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  say. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  in  British  works  on 
angling,  we  find  only  one  species  of  this  family  described ;  it 
is  a  barred  Yellow  Perch,  resembling  our  Perca  Jlavescens. 
Cuvier  describes  comparatively  few  as  being  found  in  Europe; 
while  hero  the  Percida)  include  as  many  fresh-water  species 
of  game-fish,  as  all  the  other  families  combined.  /  nd  our 
anglers  of  the  Atlantic  States  are  not  generally  aware  of  the 
great  variety  found  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States,  and 
the  sport  they  afford  to  the  fishers  there. 

The  distinguishing  marks  of  the  Percidfe  are,  edges  of  gill- 
cover  or  fore  gill-cover,  and  sometimes  both,  denticulated  or 
pectinated  like  the  teeth  of  a  comb,  or  armed  with  spines. 
Both  jaws,  the  vomer  and  palatine,  armed  with  teeth.    First 
rays  of  the  dorsal,  or  entire  first  dorsal  (if  there  be  two), 
armed  with  sharp  points ;  the  first  ray  of  the  anal-fin  being 
always  spinous ;  and  the  ventrals  with  one  or  more  spines. 
The  free  edges  of  the  scales  are  pectinated,  and  th.3  ventral- 
fins  under  the  pectorals.     From  this  latter  peculiarity,  the 
ventral-fins  being  in  close  proximity  to  the  throat,  earlier 
ichthyologists  termed  them  Thoracic  fishes.    The  sharp  spines 
of  tl.e  fins  have  caused  the  Percidae  to  be  placed  amongst  the 
Acanthopterygii.     According  to  Professor  Agassiz's  classi- 
fication  in   reference  to   paleontology,  they  belong   to   the 
Ctenoids — the  third  order  of  fishes  in  creation. 

The  Yellow-barred  Perch,  although  the  type  of  the  family, 
is  its  least  worthy  representative.  The  splendid  Rockfish, 
and  the  Southern  Bass  belong  to  other  genera.  Tlie  latter, 
which  is  found  in  all  the  Southern  and  Western  States, 
furnishes  great  sport  to  the  angler.  It  is  taken  with  minnow, 
shrimp,  spoon-bait,  bob,  and  artificial  flies.     If  by  any  dis- 


THE   PERCH    FAMILY. 


79 


pen.,„t,o„  of  ProvKlence  the  Percoul,  should  hecome  extinct, 
th.,.  «uW  hardly  be  .sport  left  to  the  angler,  who  fi„h  the 
numerous  crock.,,  rivers,  and  ,ako,  where  they  now  „l,„u,„l. 

I  have  alluded  on  another  p.ago,  to  the  rcplenishinij  "f  the 
lakelet.,  found  so  abundantly  scattered  alony  the  margin  „f 
the  M.s.„s.s,pp,,  through  i„  ,,lh,vial  botton,  land.,,  by  the 
occastonal   overflow   of   that   river.      This    phcaoracnon    is 
strongly  presented  to  the  notice  of  observing  anglers  in  .he 
neighborhood  of  St.  Louis,  and  one  is  apt  to  wo^ider  where 
he  gre.,t  numbers  and  varieties  of  the  Perch  family  come 
fron,,  to  stock  those  sluggish  waters.     In  thinking  over  the 
matter  I  have  fallen  back  on  u,y  favorite  theory,  t^^^^^^^Z 
r^.,raUo„  of  surplus  proa,.ction,  as  applicable  to  fre.,h-water 
fishes,  as  well  as  to  salt  water  or  pehigiau  genera 

If  the  reader  will  take  the  trouble  to  look  at  a  good  map. 
he  wtll  see  that  the  states  north  and  west  of  the  confluence 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  Ohio,  are  threaded  for  thousamls  of 
miles  by  rivers  of  gentle  flow,  and  dotte,!  with  innumerable 
lakelets  which,  to  a  great  extent,  are  the  feeders  and  sources 
of  the  Mississippi.     These  .are  the  breeding  phaces  of  Bass 
Crappie,  and  other  Percoids;  most  of  them  .sp.awa  earlv  iii    ' 
the  spring,  soon  after  the  ice  h.as  left  the  lakelets;  and  as 
most  fresh.water  species  in.,ti„ctively  run  down  stream  after 
spawning,  ,t  ,s  easily  conjectured  how  'argc  schools  of  the.,e 

that  are  fed  by  the  overflow  of  the  great  river 

After  a  rise  in  the  Missis.sippi,  the  lakes  and  ponds  that 
Uit  IS  course   above  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  and  down 
through  the  regions  of  cotton  and  sugar,  are  fliled  with  lis], 
oi  this  ramilj. 

In  the  ponds  which  have  been  replenished  in  this  wav  in 
the  neighboriiood  of  St.  Louis,  their  numbers  decrease  very 
■ittle  the  first  summer;  the  second  season  they  spawn  and 


80 


AMERICAN    ANOLFR'S    T500K. 


brood,  as  in  their  native  waters,  h  ,d  if  the  ponds  are  not 
refreshed  by  an  overflow  of  the  river  -ry  two  or  three 
years,  the  waters  lose  tlie  chemic:il  cond  tion  necessary  to 
the  reproduction  of  fish,  from  a  coi.unued  infusion  of  de- 
cayed ve-^^etablo  matter,  ami  the  Iukcs  become  l-irren,  until 
anotlier  overflow  of  the  mighty  river  comes  rushing  through, 
clearing  them  of  foul,  and  iilling  them  with  fresh  w  iter;  and 
resto'.-king  them  at  the  same  time  with  fi  most  nume- 

rously with  Percoids. 

Below  its  junction  with  the  Ohio,  the  Mississippi  has  made 
in  the  course  of  time,  many  a  "cutoff,'  fore  g  its  wav  in 
times  of  flood,  across  the  neck  of  a  peninsuhi  or  a  ben  in 
seeking  a  more  direct  course,  and  leaving  consideral>?e  "bodies 
of  water,  of  a  horse-shoo  shape,  as  the  old  channc  closes. 
These  are  fed  by  the  annual  or  occasional  ovci  \nv  of  the 
river,  and  their  waters  refreshed  and  restocked  with  fish,  as  just 
described.  Bruin  Lake,  opposite  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  is 
ii,  water  of  this  kind,  and  is  said  to  contain  Bass  (or  as  they 
,ii-e  there  called  Trout)  of  immense  size.  I  have  been  told 
by  an  angler,  that  \w  has  taken  there,  in  a  day's  fishino-, 
thirty  of  these  fish,  whose  aggregate  length  was  sixty  feet. 


IflB   ]' 


PAMILT. 


81 


m 


THEROCKFTP         R  STJJIPED  BASS 
^'  'itua:  CuFiER. 

Tho  following  de*  .„  ;,  taken  from  a  fish  of  .torn 
proporfon,  ^ghin,  .„„  po„„d,,;  i.,  ,e„,.h  ,i,,J 
mches,  exclusive  of  ita  caudal,  breadth  five  i„che» 

Form  elliptical,  compressed ;  length  „f  h„ad  compared  witu 
bodv,  „.,  6i  to  19;  tail  slightl,  Med;  tead  opcreleZ 
preopcrcle  scaly;  two  flat  spines  oa  the  posterior  margin 
he  operele,  w.th  a  membrane  between  and  extending  bcylnd 

tUird  of  the  distance  between  the  tip  of  the  snout  and 
postenor  an,de  of  opcrele  :  Irides  light  /ellow.    Tee  h  „„  h 
ma.,  lar,es  and  palatines,  also  on  the  sides  of  the  to„„u 
*ch.s..,  and  on  the  arches  Of  the, lis;  the  l„w::i:: 

Color;  bluish  green  on  the  back,  shading  gr.a<l„ally  li„h.er 
he  latera  hue,  ^-hich  commences  above  the  superfor  pine 

wh.te      There  are  e.ght  dusky  stripes,  the  four  above  the 
lateral  l,nc  extending  to  the  tail.     The  lower  margi,  ^f 
prc„,.re,e  an    thechin  are  roseate  white ;  caudal  an^d  d^l 
du  ky  led  eolor;  pcctor,aIs  roseate  at  the  roots  and  .-eenish 

caudal  fm.  ^^  P^^^^^orly.     S.ales  on  the  roots  of  the 

6 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.25 


UiKi    |2.5 

|5o  ■^"     HHi 

^  m    12.2 


1.1   f.-^na 


1.4 


1.6 


'/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14530 

(716)  872-4503 


\ 


01 


r^s^ 


<> 


^'\ 


O^ 


<.' 


82 


AMBRIOAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


The  first  dorsal  has  nine  stout  spines ;  the  second  one  ^ine 
and  twelve  soft  rays ;  pectorals  seventeen  rays ;  caudal  six- 
teen ;  ventrals  one  spine  and  five  rays ;  anal  three  spines  and 
eleven  rays. 

Rockfish  are  not  plentiful  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  but  are 
abundant  along  the  whole  coast,  from  Georgia  to  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence,  and  are  found  in  larger  numbers  from  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  to  Nantucket,  than  in  any  other  part  of  their 
geographical  range.  They  have  been  known  to  reach  the 
weight  of  ninety  pounds,  and  have  been  taken  with  rod  and 
line  as  high  as  forty  or  fifty, — though  one  of  six  or  eight 
pounds  affords  the  angler  sport  enough.  As  far  as  game 
qualities  are  concerned,  it  is  the  finest  fish  the  American 
angler  meets  with,  south  of  the  regions  of  the  Salmon. 

In  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  bays,  they  leave  the  salt 
water  as  soon  as  the  ice  disappears  from  the  rivers,  and  have 
been  taken  in  the  Schuylkill,  at  Fairmount  dam,  as  early  as 
the  20th  of  March,  by  trolling  with  a  minnow,  or  roach,  or  a 
small  pickled  eel,  kept  from  the  previous  season.     The  first 
Rock-fishing  of  the  season,  on  the  Potomac,  is  at  the  Falls 
above  Georgetown,  where  great  numbers,  and  large  ones,  are 
sometimes  killed ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  thev  can  bo 
taken  in  this  latitude,  as  early  as  April   or  May,  on  any 
river  communicating  with  salt  water,   where   the ,  tide   is 
obstructed  by  a  dam  or  impassable  fall.    At  Newport  and 
Narragansett  Bay,  they  are  caught  from  June  to  ^  ovember,  by 
baiting  with  a  small  species  of  herring  called  Manhaden. 
Along  the  sedgy  creeks  and  inlets,  from  Cape  Henlopen  to 
Sandy  Hook,  they  are  taken  with  soft  crabs  and  shrimps, 
during  the  months  of  August  and  September.    Large  Rock- 
fish  are  frequently  caught  in  nets,  when  they  are  following 
a  school  of  herrings  on  the  fishing  grounds,  where  they  cause 


n 

w 

w 
o 
« 

GO 

n 
I 

oo 

H 
SO 

M 

R 
O 

U 

00 

03 


THE   PERCH  PAMIIT. 


83 


much  annoyance  to  the  fishemen  by  tearing  .heir  nete,  and 

allowing  the  shad  and  herring  to  escape. 

An  erroneous  opinion  prevails,  that  Bockflsh  ascend  fresh 
nvers  above  the  head  of  tide  to  spawn ;  but  food  is  their  only 
object.  They  generally  spawn  in  tidal  creeks  and  nvcr^ 
where  smaller  streams  of  fresh  w.atcr  enter.  When  tbev 
are  taken  .n  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  above  tide,  they  are 

a^s:::;^^^'-'.^"^-^-"^-'— -t"- 

RocK.F,8H,K»._Thc  first  dash  of  a  Eockflshis  terrific  to  a 
n  v,ce.    Thmy  yards  are  frequently  spun  off  the  reel  before 
a  large  fish  can  be  checked.    At  the  Falls  of  the  Potomac  or 
m  the  rap,ds  of  the  Susquehanna.  Ms  play  i,  not  less  vigor- 
ous  than  a  Salmon's;  his  runs  are  much  longer,  and  he 
frequently  escapes  by  chafing  or  cutting  the  line  or  leader 
agamst  the  sharp  edges  of  rocks,  being  ,.sisted  in   his 
desperate  struggles  by  the  strong  current.    Still,  though 
sturdy,  he  IS  a  fair  fighter,  and  where  there  are  no  such 
obstructions,  a  gentle  hand,  a  taut  T.ne,  and  a  steady  pull 
secures  him.  •'^  ^ 

You  must  not  be  too  anxious  when  playing  him,  to  get  a 
first  sight  of  yonr  prize,  or  be  too  familiar  by  bringing  him 
close  to  the  boat  or  shore,  until  he  is  well  tired  out.  When 
he  gives  in  at  last,  and  lies  exhausted  on  his  broad  side,  vou 
may,  in  absence  of  a  gaff  or  landing-net,  put  your  thumb  in 
his  open  mouth  and  your  fingers  under  his  chin,  and  lift  him 

^CrcoT     "  *^  ^^"^  ""^  "'  ''"  *""  "-  ^P™  - 

In  Wol  fi1°"  '"°"""  '"  "^  '"  ""«'»«  f-  B-kflsh. 
In  bottom-fishing  ,n  a  tideway,  one  of  twelve  feet  with  a 

stiff  tip  ,s  necessary.    When  using  a  float,  one  of  greater 

length   and   more  pliability  affords   better  sport;   but  in 

casting  a  minnow  over  a  bold,  rocky  stream,  which  is  the 


84 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


neplm  ultra  of  .Bass  fishing,  a  stout  salmon-rod,  or  a  bamboo, 
or  a  native  reed  pole  of  eighteen  feet,  fitted  with  reel  and 
rings,  is  more  appropriate. 

In  all  cases  a  good  multiplying  reel  should  be  used,  with  a 
hundred  yards  of  well-laid  hemp  line,  which  should  pass 
through  metdlic  guides,  and  a  metallic  tip  at  the  top  of  the 
rod.  The  crack  Bass  fishers  of  New  York  are  so  fastidious, 
as  even  to  have  the  tip  (the  end-piece  through  which  the  line 
passes)  jewelled,  in  order  to  lessen  the  friction  as  the  line 
runs  out,  when  casting. 

Many  anglers  do  not  feel  secure  unless  the  leader  be  of 
double  gut,  which  is  entirely  unnecessary,  unless  there  are 
sharp  rooks  on  the  bottom ;  for  a  single  strand  of  the  best  and 
stoutest  gut,  when  wet,  will  bear  nearly  as  much  strain,  as  an 
ordinary  hemp  line.  Stout-wired  Kirby  hooks,  long  or  short 
shanks,  from  No.  1  to  00,  are  preferable;  they  are  much  more 
certain  of  hooking  than  the  Limerick. 

The  weight  of  the  sinker  should  be  proportioned  to  the 
depth  of  the  water  or  force  of  the  tide.  In  bottom-fishing,  an 
oblong  sliding  sinker  may  be  advantageously  used.  In 
trolling  or  casting  over  rapids,  a  bullet,  from  the  size  of  a 
buckshot  to  a  half  ounce,  is  best ;  then,  also,  one  or  more 
swivels  should  be  looped  on,  to  insure  the  spinning  of  the 
minnow. 

The  usual  mode  of  using  the  minnow,  when  trolling,  is  to 
"  hridy^  it,  which  is  done  in  several  ways.  The  easiest  is,  to 
put  the  hook  in  at  the  mouth,  out  through  the  gill,  and  then, 
after  taking  a  half  hitch  around  the  head,  to  pass  it  through 
the  side  of  the  back ;  so  that  the  bend  of  the  hook  may  set 
upwards,  with  the  point  towards  the  head  of  the  bait. 

Another  and  a  better  plan,  is  to  have  a  small  hook  (size  2) 
on  the  snood,  about  three  inches  above  the  larger ;  the  smaller 
book  is  passed  through  the  under,  and  out  through  the  upper 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


85 


lip  of  the  minnow;  and  the  largei  hook,  as  just  described, 
through  the  back.  To  increase  the  spinning  or  twirling  of 
the  bait  in  its  passage  through  the  water,  it  is  better  to  Vt 
on  the  minnow  slightly  bent,  which  is  done  by  passing  th4 
larger  hook  through  the  back  nearer  to  the  tail  than  you 
would  when  you  intend  the  minnow  to  swim  straight,  and 
then  doubling  it  a  little. 

In  baiting  with  shrimps,  which  are  good  in  some  waters, 
and  at  certain  seasons,  a  float  should  be  used,  if  the  tide  is 
not  too  strong;   this  bait  should  not  touch  the  bottom,  as 
Eockfish  are  not  in  the  habit  of  looking  for  them  there;  it 
should  also  be  kept  in  motion  by  occasional  short  jerks  or  • 
twitches  of  the  rod.    Soft  crabs  are  always  found  on  the 
bottom  by  the  fish,. when  feeding  on  them,  and,  of  course,  in 
using  crab-bait,  you  should  fish  near  the  bottom,  whether  it 
be  with  or  without  a  float.    I  have  sometimes  found  Eock- 
fish  so  well  on  the  feed,  as  to  take  a  slice  or  oblong  piece  of 
fish-bait,  readily  striking  at  it,  if  it  is  white  and  well  put  on; 
for,  like  other  fish,  they  have  not  the  delicate  sense  of  taste,' 
that  anglers  give  them  credit  for. 

The  pearl  minnow,  or  a  tuft  of  raw  cotton,  or  a  white  rag 
tied  on  a  hook,  will  frequently  take  small  Eockfish,  where  a 
strong  tide  sweeps  ui^der  a  bridge,  or  around  the  corner  of  a 
pier.     The  fish  wait  in  the  eddies  on  the  lee  side  of  the  tim- 
bers  of  the  bridge,  or  angles  of  the  pier,  for  minnows  or 
shrimp;  and  seize  any  small  object  having  the  appearance  of 
life.     There  is  no  doubt  that  at  such  times,  a  light  colored  fly 
particularly  the  white  moth,  would  be  taken  greedily,  though 
a  white  rag  answers  the  purpose  as  well.     Half  flood  is  the 
best  time  of  tide  for  such  fishing.     The  pearl  minnow  should 
be  drawn  against  the  current,  a  few  inches  below  the  surface 
and  near  the  edge  of  the  eddy;  the  angler  being  careful  to 
keep  out  of  sight  and  not  to  cast  his  shadow  over  the  swim 


86 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK 


lb 


At  the  Rancocas  bridge,  a  few  miles  above  Philadelpliia,  some 
years  ago,  a  party  of  three  anglers,  on  a  day  in  the  latter  part 
of  Junj,  took  fifteen  dozen  Rockfish,  from  ten  to  fourteen 
inches  long,  with  the  pearl  minnow. 

In  strong  tideways,  or  deep  water,  the  last  half  of  the  ebb, 
and  the  first  half  hour  of  the  flood  tide  is  generally  consi- 
dered the  best  time  for  taking  this  fish.  In  the  shallow  bays 
and  sounds  extending  along  our  coast,  there  are  thoroughfares 
between  the  low  grassy  islands,  which  are  almost  dry  at  low 
water.  Here  crabs  are  found  in  great  numbers,  and  the  Rock- 
fish  come  in  with  the  flood  tide  in  search  of  them.  In  such 
'  places,  the  last  half  of  the  flood  and  high  water  are  the  proper 
times.  The  most  fiiraous  place  along  the  coast  for  catching 
these  fish,  is  Narragansett  Bay.  I  have  heard  stories  o**  the 
Bass  fishing  there,  that  it  is  not  prudent  to  repeat. 

The  American  Angler's  Guide,  by  J.  J.  Brown,  Esq.,  of 
New  York,  has  an  excellent  article  on  Striped  Bass  fishing  in 
the  waters  around  New  York. 

Frank  Forester,  in  speaking  of  this  fish,  says,  "The  fly 
will  take  them  brilliantly,  and  at  the  end  of  three  hundred 
yards  of  line,  a  twelve-pound  Bass,  will  be  found  quite  suffi- 
cient, to  keep  even  the  most  skilful  angler's  hands,  as  full  as 
he  can  possibly  desire."     The  author  in  question  must  have 
delighted  in  "magnificent  distances" ;  for  a  line  oi  three  hun- 
dred yards,  with  a  Bass  at  the  end  of  it,  would  certainly  be 
"  playing  at  long  taw,"  and  is  suggestive  of  "  shooting  with  a 
long  bow."     Most  anglers  will  kill  a  Bass  of  any  size,  and 
not  give  him  fifty  yards  of  line.     Frank  Forester's  idea  of 
trolling  for  Rockfish,  as  some  anglers  fish  for  Pike,  with  a 
leaded  gorge  hook,  from  the  shore,  even  if  successful,  would 
be  dull  sport  compared  with  the  usual  mode  of  taking  them. 
It  would  moreover  be  degrading  to  the  bold  Rockfish,  to 
place  him  iu  the  same  category  with  a  sneaking  Pike. 


TB«   PERCH  FAllHy. 


S7 


b   of  he  Sou  hern  Baaa  or  the  Black  Ba.  of  the  great  Lea; 
«t.  J  It  .s  not  an  uneommon  thing  to  take  Bockflsh  with  a 

n  hook  wrapped  wuh  a  piece  of  yellow,  or  .cnetime.  wi!h 
red  flannel  will  answer  the  purpose.    This  fish  follows  and 

sZf       ,/  r""  ""^^  *""  "•'  '"^  -'«>».  -J  doe.  not 

Eookflsh  below  twelve  inches  are  not  good,  the  flesh  an 

to  that  of  a  four-pounder,  as  veal  does  to  beef.  When  of  two 
or  three  pounds,  they  should  be  split  and  broiled,  they  are 
then  very  good,,  above  this  size,  they  are  generally  boiled. 
They  are  better  though,  cut  into  steaks,-that  is,  in  transverse 
sh^s-and  broiled,  and  served  with  melted  butter  and  parsley 
The  flesh  of  overgrown  Eockfish  is  said  to  be  coarse,  and  is 
not  esteemed. 

Most  tidewater  anglers  have  pleasant  reminiscences  of  this 
ash    but  no  recollection  of  Bass  fishing  comes  back  to  me 
with  greater  pleasure,  than  my  first  essay  amongst  -  e  "big 
ones.       It  was  many  years  ago,   in  the  month  „i  June 
when  on  a  visit  to  a  relative-an  ardent  though  not  a  scien.' 
tiflc  angler-who  hved  on  the  banks  of  the  broad  Rappahan. 
nock,  near  its  mouth.    On  the  morning  after  my  arrival,  my 
host  mprovised  a  bout  with  the  Eockfish;  and  I  saw  from 
my  chamber  window,  a  negro  boy,  with  no  other  implemen" 
than  a  four.pronged  stick,  capture  as  many  soft  crabs  as 
sufficed  for  bait  and  breakfast.    Our  canoes  were  sta       ou" 
some     .stance  from  the  margin  of  the  sandy  beach,  which 
made  It  necessary  to  be  carried  to  them.    This  task  was 
^eedily  a«>mplished  by  a  sturdy  little  negro;  who  J," 
trousers  rolled  up  on  his  sable  drumsticks,  dumped  the 
whole  cargo-bait,  rods  and  four  anglors-into  two    .dug 


88 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


out8."     We  were  soon  staked  down  on  the  flats,  a  half  mile 
from  the  shore,  where  the  water  was  six  feet  deep.     Our  ob- 
ject was,  to  place  the  boats  in  such  a  position,  as  tp  fish  into 
the  "galls,"  or  bare  places,  where  there  was  no  grass;  these 
were  of  various  sizes,  from  three  rods  square  to  half  an  acre. 
The  rods,  reels  and  scientific  tackle  of  the  city  anglers,  ex- 
cited  the  wonder,  and  no  doubt  the  silent  contempt  of  the 
native  fishermen ;  who  were  rigged,  one  with  a  hand-line,  and 
the  other  with  a  stout  cedar  pole,  with  a  line  attached  to  it, 
that  might  have  held  a  Shark.     My  host,  a  staunch  Democrat 
and  anti-bank  man,  dubbed  my  rod,  which  was  not  over  stout 
and  fifteen  feet  long,  "  The  Nick  Biddle  pole,"  and  assured 
me  it  was  all  well  enough  for  White  Perch,  but  would  rot 
hold  a  Rockfish,  such  as  he  could  bring  with  a  strong  pull, 
and  a  "  whop,"  right  into  the  canoe. 

It  was  my  good  fortune  to  hook  the  first  fish,  a  fine  fellow 
of  six  pounds.     There  was  much  laughter,  of  course ;  Uncle 
Roily  declared  I  would  never  get  him  in.    "  See  how  your  pole 
bends !     Why  he's  way  off  in  the  middle  of  the  gall  already  I 
Why  don't  you  pull  him  in  ?"     The  old  man  was  here  inter- 
rupted by  the  disappearance  of  his  pine-bark  float,  and  in  less 
time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  he  had  his  fish  flapping  in  the 
bottom  of  the  canoe.     "  There !"  said  he,  "  I  can  catch  ten  to 
your  one.     I  tell  you,  your  Nick  Biddle  pole  will  never  do 
here  I"     By  this  time  I  had  my  fish  pretty  well  in  hand,  and 
after  a  dash  or  two  more  Jordan,  the  negro  boy,  put  a  wide 
crab-net  under  him,  and  lifted  him  in.    The  next  fish  Uncle 
Roily  hooked  broke  his  hold ;  so  did  a  good  many  more,  and 
large  ones  too ;  while  every  fish  struck  by  the  dandy  pole, 
was  killed  artistically,  though  the  old  man  thought  with 
much  unnecessary  ceremony.     At  the  ebb  of  the  tide  science 
had  told.     We  had  a  good  time  of  it,  and  the  owner  of  the 
"  Biddle  pole"  felt  great  confidence  in  his  fine  tackle,  and 


THE   PERCH    FAMILY. 


89 


much  quiet  satisfaction  in  his   first  success  with  it;   while 

Uncle  Roily  laughed  at  hie  tactics.     We  went  homo  and  ate 

the  stewed  head  and  shoulders  of  a  large  Rockfish  and  soft 

crabs  for  dinner.     Next  day  we  tried  our  luck  again  with 

equal  success;  and  before  leaving  for  home  one  of  the  town 

anglers  killed  a  Rockflsh  of  twenty-five  pounds,  which  Uncle 
Roily  would  certainly  have  lost. 

Besides  the  fishing  in  this  part  of  the  Old  Dominion,  I  have 
Vivid  recollections  pf  the  hat,  hair,  and  hospitality  of 


"Uncle  Kolly.'' 


90 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


WHITE  PERCH.    GRAY  PERCH. 

Labrax  pallidua :  De  Kat. 

Color— back,  bluish  gray;  aides,  silvery  gray ;  belly,  white ; 
body  compressed,  elliptical ;  breadth,  one-third  of  its  length ; 
head  not  quite  a  third;  eye  one-third  distant  from  snout; 
opercle  and  preopercle  scaly,  a  single  flat  spine  on  the 
opercle,  with  a  membrane  extending  beyond;  preopercle 
serrated  on  lower  margin.  Branchial,  and  fin  rays.  B  6 ; 
D  9,  1,  12;  C  16;  P  14;  V  15;  A  3,  10.  Compared  with 
Labrax  rufus  of  De  Kay,  this  fish  is  of  a  more  lustrous 
silvery  hue;  its  fins  longer  and  more  transparent;  the 
rays  more  delicate ;  spines  longer  and  sharper,  some  of  the 
dorsal  spines  with  a  sabre-like  curve.  The  facial  line  is 
more  depresses,  eye  full,  mouth  larger,  and  bearing  all  the 
marks  of  a  game  predatory  fish.  It  is  seldom  found  north 
of  the  Delaware. 

De  Kay's  specific  appellation  "Pallidus"  denotes  the  color, 
and  marks  the  difference  between  this  and  his  Lahrax  rvfus, 
or  Ruady  Bass.     I  believe  as  he  did,  that  the  two  are  distinct 


TIIK   PEECH   FAlllLl. 


«1 


Hpodea.    HolWk,  quoting  Gmclin,  clU  itZabrax  A„.„: 
«......,  and  ail.  ,„.o  the  ,an.„  „„or  .,  Cuvier  and  Sto,-er, 

nmking  no  sr«;ciflc  difforonoo  between  the  two 

of  New  York.    I,»  ,,„bit,  difl'or  fr„,„  tho«,  of  PalUJ,.,  b„i„g 
o„nd  mostly  on  flat  clayey  „nd  „,uddy  boa„„«,  „nd  i ,  »,,.! 
ow^  and  .n  aome  of  the  fresh-water  pond,  of  the  New  Eng. 
land  states  and  New  YorL-      t*  i  x    ,  ° 

oepaiaius.  ■   "  ■'"  ""'  *"  «™« 1""""™ 

The  White  Perch  i.  a  congener  of  the  magniflcent  Eockfi.h 
and  „  frequently  found  feeding  i„  the  »ame  place  and  in  hi 
company,    i.,  ,  ,,„^,,  .^  ^.^^^  ^^  _^.l  ^  .  ^^_^^ 

not  often  more  than  twelve,  though  in  rare  instances  it  is 
found  fourteen  inches  long. 

This  beautifnl,  free-biling  little  flsh,  which  affords  so 
much  sport,  and,  which  is  found  in  all  the  fresh  and  brackish 
t.cle  waters,  from  Cape  Uatteras  to  Sandy  Hook,  doeTuot 
receive  that  favorable  notice  from  writers  on  ichthyolog! 
and  anghng  which  it  merits.  De  Kay.  .,  .„eaking  of  it,X 
descnbmg  the  Buddy  Bas,  says:  "Like  the  pree^dlg  s,  ots 
nhabtts  salt  and  brackish  waters;  but  as  far  as  my  ob.  ,  vt 
t.ons  have  extended,  it  is  invariably  a  small  fish,  and  rarely 

.  Whif  P     r*'/"^  ''^-    ^"'  ^""«  ^^"'«  Bass,  0^ 
Whte  Perch,  may  be  readily  distinguished  from  the  other 
by  Its  hght  color,  small  si.e,  and  very  compressed  body  »      ' 
I  am  disposed  to  object  to  its  being  called  a  salt-water  fish 
Its  most  natural  habitat  is  fresh  tidal-rivers.    It  is  frequemly 
found  iar  above  the  terminus  of  the  tide,  and  they  alt"  n 
mor.  abundant  in  fresh  than  in  brackish  waters,  atL  season 
of  he  year  when  they  are  sought  for  by  anglers.    This  flsh 
when  found  m  salt-water  creeks,  is  darker  in  color,  but  there 
13  no  speoiflc  diflerence. 
The  remark  above  quoted,  that  it  is  "rarely  brought  to 


02 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


market  for  food,"  is  an  error  so  glaring,  as  to  cause  one  to 
suppose,  that  the  explorations  of  the  naturalist  in  question, 
could  not  have  extended  south  of  New  York.     The  same 
author  also  says  or  implies,  thac  its  average  size  does  not 
exceed  six   or  seven  inches;    by  which  he    also  evinced 
his  slight  knowledge  of  this  fish.     Frank  Forester,  in  his 
book  on  angling,  after  a  slight  notice,  dismisses  it,  as  "not 
sufficiently  important  to  merit  more  particular  notice."     The 
latter  gentleman  missed  much,  by  not  becoming  acquainted 
with  our  little  friend  Pallidus.    In  season,  the  White  Perch 
is  the  pan  fish  (and  there  is  none  better)  of  the  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  Washington,  Norfolk,   and  Eichmond  markets. 
And  as  for  sport ;  should  it  be  said  that  a  man  or  boy  has  no 
sport,  or  is  not  an  angler,  because  he  does  not  use  reel  or 
gut?      Did  not  Billy  Jones,  the  chair-maker,  down  town, 
go  a  Perch-fishing  four  or  five  times  every  summer ;  shut- 
ting up  his  shop  for  the  day,  and  taking  his  wife,  children, 
and  apprentices  in  his  sailboat  down  the  river— or  in  a 
furniture  car  down  the  "Neck;"  and  with  his  brandling-worms 
in  an  old  coflfee-pot.  and  his  minnow-net  and  frying-pan,  and 
store  of  bread  and  butter  and  bottled  ale,  make  a  day  of  it  ? 
Did  not  "our  Johrny"  shoulder  his  reed-pole  every  Saturday 
morning,  when  there  was  a  run  of  Perch  at  Fairmount  dam; 
and  return  at  night  with  a  string  of  them  as  long  as  his  leg, 
and  his  trousers  snjeared  with  shad-roe  ?    Is  not  Uncle  Jim— 
a  respectable  colored  gentleman— who  lives  in  a  quiet  nook 
by  the  Curratoma,  down  in  Old  Virginia,  always  sure  of  a 
mess  of  them  ?     And  Old  Davy,  whose  shanty  is  on  the  high 
blufi;  by  the  mouth  of  the  Sassafras,  does  he  not  "count  on 
'em  ?"   And  still  the  learned  De  Kay,  and  the  eloquent  Frank 
Forester  speak  disparagingly   or  hardly  notice   this  game 
IHtle  fish,  £0  intimately  associated  with  the  early,  and  happy 


IHB  PJIBCH  rjMlLT. 


•3 


reooUeclioB,  of  every  angler  of  the  waters  that  find  their  way 
into  the  Cnesapeake  and  Delaware. 

White  Perch  hybernate  in  the  deep  salt  water  of  our  bays 
and  a^end  the  fresh  tide-rivers  soon  afler  the  ice  and  snow-' 
water  have  run  off.  They  feed  greedily  on  the  spawn  of  other 
fish,  particularly  that  of  the  shad ,  on  insects,  g-nhs,  minnows, 
and  on  the  migratory  schools  of  young  eels,  which  are  found 

rapid  or  dam  obstructing  the  upward  flow  of  the  tide.  Perch 
usually  spawn  in  May,  and  then  resort  to  deeper  waters  to 
recuperate,  and  all  sun  r  long,  are  found  by  the  angler 
ever  sw,mm,ng  around  the  deep  sunken  pier,  or  the  timlr^ 
of  the  nekety  old  bridge,  snapping  at  shrimp,  or  chasing  th" 
minnows  on  the  flood-tide  high  up  amongst  the  water-lflie 
and. verrefusmg  a  bait,  if  of  the  right  sort,  and  properly- 

The  first  Perch-flshing  of  the  season,  is  alwavs  at  th, 
termmus  of  a  tideway,  as  just  mentioned,  nlgt  h 
summer,  they  are  taken  on  the  ebb-tide  in  deep  wfter  on 
-ndy  or  rocky  bottoms  or  muscle-beds,  or  around  stone 
piles  or  sunken  hulks;  and  on  the  flood-tide,  awte 
margins  o  rivers,  or  creek,  where  the  long  grass^^  or  wa^ 
lihes  afford  a  home  for  the  minnows 

In  brackish  water,  shrimps  are  decidedly  the  best  bait  •  in 
deep  holes,  in  fresh  tide  rivers,  brandling-worms,  on  hefi^or 
^de,  along  the  margin  of  the  grass  or  water-lilies,  m  miows 
»-e  good,  or  a  wedge-shaped  fish-bait  is  greedily  taL  i  tie 
Perch  are  well  on  the  feed.    This  last  should  U  cut  with  tL 

e.»ht  fish  may  be  taken  bc&re  renewing  it.    For  earlv 
fishing,  young  eels,  spawned  the  preceding  autumn,  ZlZ 

rrra3rThr::r""\"T« 
--e.thetideisim;irby"r::irHer: 


u 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


the  Perch  and  Eockfish  devour  immease  numbers  of  them, 
and  it  is  only  at  such  places  that  these  fish  look  for  them! 
The  vitality  of  these  little  animals  is  wonderful;  and  if  the' 
hook  is  passed  through  them  below  the  vitals,  which  are 
easily  seen,  they  remain  'alive  for  some  time.  Two  or  three 
eels  are  put  on  each  hook.  This  bait  is  found  in  small  pools 
left  by  the  ebb  of  the  tide,  and  can  be  easily  secured  with  a 
small  net  of  sea-grass  skirting. 

The  first  catch  of  Perch,  with  Philadelphia  anglers,  is,  or 
u;a5,  below  the  dam  at  Fairmount  waterworks;  beginning  in 
April  with  young  eels,  and  occasionally  small  minnows  for 
bait.  Early  in  the  season,  the  most  likely  places  are  where 
the  rapid  subsides  into  deep,  still  water;  in  May  they  are 
found  more  in  the  rapids  and  nearer  the  fall  of  the  dam 

The  tackle  which  afibrds  the  best  sport  is  a  common  native 
reed  poie,  of  twelve  or  thirteen  feet,  not  thicker  at  the  butt 
than  the  thumb,  and  tapering  to  a  fine  point,  which  can  be 
rendered  still  finer  and  stronger  by  splicing  on  a  tip  of  lance 
or  iron-wood.  The  same  rod  may  also  be  used  with  a  reel 
by  putting  on  rings,  and  a  metallic  tip  at  the  end  for  the  line 
to  pass  through. 

A  fine  line  of  flax  or  silk  should  be  used,  with  a  gut  leader 
of  three  or  four  feet,  with  two  hooks,  one  at  the  end,  and 
one  eighteen  inches  or  two  feet  above.     The  best  hooks  when 
baiting  with  little  eels,  are  those  termed  "weak  trout"  hooks 
They  are  long  in  the  shank,  which  facilitates  baiting  and 
taking  ofi-  the  fish ;  the  wire  is  also  delicate,  mutilating  the 
bait  less  than  a  coarser  hook,  and  being  more  elastic,  or  at 
least  more  flexible,  lets  go  its  hold  more  easily  when  caught 
on   the  bottom.     If  in  pulling  it  away,  the  hook  should 
straighten  to  any  extent,  it  may  be  easily  restored  to  its 
shape,  by  pressing  the  bend  together  between  the  fore  teeth 
With  delicate  handling,  these  hooks  are  strong  enouc^h  to 
secure  a  three-pound  Eockfish,  if  he  should  take  your  bait 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


95 


The  sinker,  conical  or  round,  should  be  in  size  from  a  buck- 
shot  to  a  half  ounce  bullet.  Its  weight  must  depend  on  the 
depth  and  force  of  the  current;  it  should  be  attached  by  a 
weak  piece  of  gut  or  thread  at  the  junction  of  the  leader  with 
the  line;  so  that  in  case  of  its  being  caught  between  the 
rocks,  you  may  lose  only  the  bullet,  and  not  your  leader  and 
hooks. 

When  fishing  in  slack  water,  especially  by  the  edge  of  the 
water-lilies  or  grass,  it  is  advisable  to  use  a  float;  the  Perch 
like  other  predatory  fish,  seldom  taking  a  bait  on  the  bottom,' 
unless  It  IS  in  motion.  The  distance  between  the  hooks  and 
the  float  should  not  be  more  than  two-thirds  or  three-fourtha 
the  depth  of  the  water. 

Where  the  tide  sweeps  around  the  end  of  a  pier,  or  the  piles 
of  a  bridge.  Perch  frequently  are  found  in  the  eddies  on  the 
edge  of  the  current,  waiting  for  minnows  or  shrimp;  then  a 
short  line  (without  a  reel)  is  preferable.    In  such  places  they 
can  at  times  be  taken  with  a  pearl  minnow.     In  a  tideway  or 
lively  water,  always  fish  down  stream,  to  prevent  the  current 
bringing  your  line  home  to  you,  and  so  as  to  allow  it  to  lift 
the  sinker  and  leader  from  the  bottom,  and  veer  it  about  in 
such  way,  that  the  bait  will  appear  attractive.     In  fishing 
from  a  boat,  anchor  just  far  enough  above  the  desired  place 
to  fish  into  it,  occasionally  trying  either  side.     If  you  are  in 
the  right  place,  and  the  fish  are  on  the  feed,  there  is  no  ne- 
cessity  for  striking,  if  the  line  is  kept  taut,  for  they  generally 
hook  themselves  at  the  first  pass  they  make  at  the  bait 

If  the  angler  is  not  greedy  for  a  large  catch,  and  the  fish  are 
found  near  the  surface,  and  on  the  shallow  rapids,  as  they 
sometimes  are  on  a  v.arm  day  in  May,  a  stout  fly-rod  and 
light  tackle  might  be  used,  baiting  with  a  single  eel  and 
without  using  a  sinker,  casting  and  drawing  as  with  a  heavy 
fly.  Of  course  it  takes  longer  to  secure  a  fish  by  such  means 
but  the  sport  is  heij^lii^-ned. 


96 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Perch-fisliing  in  the  moD*h  of  May,  iu  brisk  water,  where 
the  run  of  fish  is  from  nine  to  twelve  inches,  is  not  a  whit 
inferior  to  bait-fishing  for  Trout.  I  prefer  the  former,  because 
Perch,  by  such  appliances  as  I  have  described,  are  taken  in  a 
sportsmanlike  manner,  and  Trout  (which  should  be  taken 
only  with  a  fly)  are  not.  Sometimes  in  deep  holes  at  the 
Jiead  of  tide-water,  when  fishing  with  a  minnow,  the  broad- 
sided  Shad  will  take  the  bait ;  or  a  three-pound  Eockfish  will 
come  into  your  swim ;  then  if  you  have  no  reel,  or  your  hand 
be  not  gentle,  and  if  you  do  not  grasp  your  rod  by  its  extreme 
butt,  and  give  him  the  whole  spring  of  your  fragile  reed,  you 
are  a  ruined  angler;  and  you  may  not  forgive  yourself  for  a 
week,  for  lack  of  skill  or  precaution. 

Many  anglers  object  to  a  reed  rod,  on  account,  as  they  say, 
of  a  feeling  of  insecurity  in  its  use.  But  for  Perch-fishing, 
its  lightness,  and  graceful  bend,  when  a  fish  is  on,  commend 
it ;  and  the  very  objection  that  is  urged  increases  the  sport  to 
one  who  is  fond  of  fishing  fine. 

The  Perch  is  decidedly  a  pan-fish;  and  when  rolled  in 
grated  cracker,  or  coarse  corn  meal,  and  moderately  browned, 
is  better  fried  than  broiled.  To  a  man  of  wholesome,  un- 
pampered  appetite,  it  is  hard  to  serve  up  a  better  dinner  than 
fried  Perch,  with  good  bread  and  butter,  and  a  little  claret ; 
or  what  is  still  better,  though  more  homely,  a  bottle  of 
Philadelphia  ale.  Large  White  Perch  are  sometimes  boiled, 
and  served  up  with  egg  sauce. 

A  piquant  dish  may  be  made  as  follows :— Cut  off  the  heads 
and  tails,  and  fry  the  fish  enough  to  lay  them  open,  and  take 
out  the  backbone  and  ribs,  dividing  each  fish  into  two  slices ; 
then  put  them  in  the  pan  again,  and  brown  them  in  coarse 
corn  meal ;  pouring  over  them,  when  nearly  done,  a  little 
Worcestershire  sauce,  or  walnut  catsup,  and  serve  them  up 
with  drawn  butter  and  an  additional  quantity  of  either  sauce 
or  catsup. 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


97 


THE  WHITE  BASS  OP  THE  LAKES. 

Labrax  alhidua :  De  Kay. 

De  Kay  says:  "This  fish  is  bluish  white  above  the  lateral 
me  a  few  narrow  dusky  parallel  streaks  above  and  beneath 
this  line;  sides  and  belly  white  ,  pupils  black;  irides  white 
intermixed  with  a  little  brown;  dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  fins 
brownish,  tmged  with  blue ;  pectoral  fins  whitish,  tinged  with 
ohve  green;   ventrals  light  transparent   blue,  tipped  with 
whx  e.    Length  5-10,  depth  3-0.     Fins,  dorsal  9,  1,  13;  pec- 
torals 17;  ventrals  1,  5;  anal  3,  12;  caudal  17.     This  is  a 
very  common  fish  in  Lake  Erie,  and  is  known  at  Buffalo 
under  the  name  of  White  Bass." 

In  the  year  1844,  I  made  an  appointment  with  a  fine  old 
gentleman  of  the  medical  profession,  known  and  loved  bv 
all  Philadelphians,  who  had  taken  up  an  idea  that  I  was 
something  of  an  angler,  to  meet  him  at  Mackinaw,  on  my 
return  from   a  western  tour.     We  were  to   have  gone  to 
bault  St.  Mane,  where  he  had  renewed  his  early  love  fo^ 
angling,  by  taking  some  of  the  large  Trout  in  the  rapids,  the 
previous  summer,  with  an  outfit  which  I  had  furnished  him 
Much  to  my  regret  I  received, a  letter  from  him,  when  ] 
reached  Mackinaw,  telling  me  that  his  presence  at  home  was 
indispensable,  and  requesting  me  to  call  at  Detroit  and  spend 
a  few  days  with  his  son,  then  a  lieutenant   in  the  U   S 
Engineer  Department,  who  had  charge  of  the  construction  of 
a  fort  there.     I  stopped,  and  we  spent  two  long  days  angling 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


in  Detroit  River.  Our  success  was  varied.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  first  day,  near  sundown,  we  took  twenty-five  White 
Bass,  with  the  artificial  fly,  in  a  creek  on  the  Canada  side 
opposite  the  town.  They  were  all  of  a  size— eight  of  them 
weighing  just  seven  pounds.  The  fly  was  a  rough  affair  of 
my  own  make,  the  wings  being  of  the  end  of  a  peacock's  tail 
feather.  We  afterwards  learned  that  we  had  been  fishing  in 
preserved  waters ;  the  Canadian  fishermen,  who  supplied  the 
Detroit  market,  had  caught  the  fish  with  a  net  in  the  river, 
and  had  turned  them  loose  in  the  back-water  of  the  creek  and 
placed  some  brus'h  across,  so  as  to  have  them  ready  when 
there  was  a  demand  for  them. 

I  have  passed  Detroit  since,  and  tried  to  identify  the  place ; 
I  think  the  railroad  depot  at  Sandwich,  on  the  Canadian  side, 
is  near  it ;  the  creek  has  been  drained  off,  or  has  become  a 
mere  ditch  or  uninhabited  water,  and  the  lieutenant,  in  the 
course  of  promotion,  has  become  a  great  general.  I  wonder 
if,  amidst  the  arduous  duties  of  the  present,  he  ever  thinks 
of  that  quiet  afternoon  ? 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


99 


FRESH- WATER  BASS  OP  THE  SOUTH  AND  WEST. 

Grystea  aalmoides :   Cuvier. 
This  fish  is  known  under  various  names,  through  the  wide 
extent  of  its  habitat.    In  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond,  it 
IS  called  the  James  River  Chub,  sometimes  Bass.    In  its  more 
southerly  range,  it  goes  bj  the  names  of  Trout,  Black  Trout 
and  Brown  Trout,  and  is  seldom  called  Bass,  except  in  the' 
Northwestern  States.     Although  it  is  called  "Trout,"  at  the 
South,  there  is  no  family  or  generic  affinity  between  it  and 
our  northern  Trout. 

The  following  is  an  abridgment  of  Holbrook's  description 

connected  with  a  few  observations  of  the  writer.    Head  and 

body,  dusky  olive  above,  sometimes  with  a  yellowish  tint 

lighter  on  the  sides.     Belly  white;  opercles  light  green  or 

greenish  yellow;  first  dorsal  fin,  nine  spines  and  eighteen 

soft  rays;  pectorals,  fifteen ;  ventrals,  one  spine  and  five  rays  • 

anal,  three  spines  and  twelve  rays;  caudal,  nineteen   rays! 

Body  elongated   oval,   straight   on  the  belly.     Eye   large. 

Mouth  very  large,  lower  jaw  longer.     The  vomer  has  bru^h- 


100 


AMERICAN  ANGLBR'H  BOOK. 


like  teeth  in  front.    Teeth  on  the  palatines  and  pharyngeal 
bones.    Tongue  smooth,  without  teeth  in  front. 

They  are  found  in  the  James  Eiver,  in  the  lagoons  of  the 
Dismal  Swamp,  in  the  Boanoke,  and  in  every  fresh-water 
stream  of  any  size  in  the  Southern  Atlantic  States ;  in  the 
streams  and  lakes  of  Florida,  and  in  all  the  rivers  which  flow 
from  the  north  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  along  its  whole  ex- 
tent.   All  the  creeks  and  bayous  are  stocked  with  them;  so 
are  tbe  lakes  formed  in  the  old  bed  of  the  Mississippi,  wher- 
ever the  river  has  made  a  cut-oil)  though  they  are  seldom  or 
ever  taken  in  the  river  itself— the  fish  of  most  families  only 
using  it  as  a  high  road  or  thoroughfare  from  one  lake  to 
another.     They  are  also  found  in  the  Cheat,  Holston,  Green, 
Kentucky,  Alabama.  Cumberland,  Tennessee,  and  Ohio,  and 
in  their  tributaries,  to  their  very  sources  in  the  highlands  and 
mountains.     They  are  not  so  plentiful  in  the  streams  or  their 
tributaries  that  fall  into  the  Mississippi  on  the  western  side ; 
but  the  long  still  lakes  of  the  alloivial  bottom  lands  on  the 
east  side,  from  the  Ohio  to  Eock  Eiver,  are  stocked  with  this 
and  other  percoids  by  the  occasional  overflow  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. 

The  rivers  of  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  the  streams 
and  clear  lakes  of  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  also  sup- 
ply them,  with  a  little  variety  in  form  and  color. 

This  fish  is  taken  generally  by  still  fishing,  with  a  live 
minnow,  and  it  is  only  of  late  years  in  the  Southern  States, 
that  anglers  have  used  the  spoon,  which  is  found  to  be  very 
destructive.  An  accomplished  angler  of  the  "Houseless,"  gave 
me  a  glowing  description  of  a  party  who  started  from  Colum- 
bia, South  Carolina,  to  fish  the  Edisto  Eiver,  in  the  month  of 
May  1860  ;  they  used  the  spoon  bait,  trolling  near  the  bank 
under  the  overhanging  branches,  each  angler  occupying  a 
boat  paddled  by  his  servant.     They  collected  at  night  on 


THE  Pl!»ca  FAMIIT. 


101 


board  of  the  flat-boat  which  accompanied  them  down  the 
mor,  with  storea,  cooking  utensils,  and  bedding.  They  fished 
my  or  s.xty  mdes  of  the  river,  and  had  a  glorious  tirne  of  it, 
taking  Bass  weighing  as  high  as  eight  pounds 

In  the  states  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  this  fish  is 
taken  with  the  minnow,  shrimp,  and  bob ;  the  latter  is  an  arti. 
ficial  bait,  made  of  gaudy  feather,  and  tinsel  (on  two  or  three 
hooks);  It  IS  „s  large  as  a  humming  bird.    It  is  said  that 
the  tip  end  of  a  buck's  tail  answers  the  same  purpose  in 
Flor  da.    The  bob  is  usrf  from  a  boat,  with  a  long  ro^  and  a 
short  line;  the  boat  is  paddled  silently  along,  a.  a  convenient 
distance  from  the  shore,  while  the  angler  is  dapping  his  bob 
along  in  hkely  places  near  the,  bank;  or,  if  he  "paddles 
his  own  canoe/' the  end  of  a  long  reed  with  a  short  line 
pro;ects  beyond  the  bow  of  the  boat,  the  bob  just  tonchin. 
.he  water.    When  the  fish  seizes  i,  which  is  always  with  I 

t  w.  TV'  "'""«''  "  """•'  """^  ■^""^'^"o  '-^»>'=  »s»es,  in 
which  the  flsh  IS  taken  by  the  angler  or  the  rod  is  carried 
away  by  the  flsh. 

I  have  taken  this  Bass  in  the  vicinity  of  St,  Louis,  on  a 
moonshiny  nigh,  by  skittering  a  light  spoon  over  the  surface 
of  the  water  while  standing  on  the  shore.  In  the  South  a 
mianow  or  shrimp  is  considered  the  best  bait,  and  a  float  of 
suitable  size  is  used  on  such  occasions 

on  the  Gulf  coast  between  the  latter  city  and  Mobile,  formeriy 
enjoyed  Bass-flshing  to  its  full  extent;  many  of  them  "Z 
ardent  and  skilful  anglers.  mem  were 

I  have  often  thought  that  this  flsh  would  take  a  large  arti. 
ficial  fly  well,  and  give  groat  sport,  on  a  stout  trout  rod,  tid 

rrespondmg  tackle.  My  belief  has  lately  been  veriflcdTy 
an  account  given  me  of  an  English  or  Scotch  angler  who 
spent  last  summer  at  the  town  of  Bock  Island,  Illinois.    H 


102 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


waded  Rock  River  and  fished  for  Bass  as  for  Trout  or  Salmon, 
and  killed  a  great  many,  some  of  which  were  of  vary  large 
size.  I  hope  he  did  not  take  the  chills  and  fever  home  with 
him,  to  disturb  his  pleasant  reminiscences  of  his  sport. 

The  rod  used  is  generally  a  springy  weapon  of  fourteen 
feet  for  bait-fishing,  and  a  lighter  one  with  the  bob.  A  good 
reel,  and  stout  line  and  gut  are  required ;  the  hook  from  No. 
1  to  00 ;  the  latter  size  is  preferable,  as  the  Bass  has  a  large 
mouth. 

This  fish  is  unsurpassed  in  flavor  by  any  of  the  Perch 
family.  The  smaller  are  broiled  or  fried,  the  larger  should 
be  boiled  and  served  up  with  egg  sauce. 


TBH   PERCH   FAMILY. 


108 


BLACK  BASS  OF  THE  NORTHEEN  LAKES. 

Gryateanigritans:  Aoassiz. 

The  color  of  this  fish  (which  appears  to  vary  with  locality 
or  the  season)  is  geaerallj  dark   olive-green  on   the  back 
shading  gradually  into  a  brownish  yellow  on  the  sides  •  belly 
opaque  white.     Body  compressed,  oval ;  back  arched;  belly 
less  curved  than  the  superior  outline;  breadth  as  two  to  seven 
Lateral  line  concurrent  with  back.    Head  small,  little  less  than 
one-fourth  the  length  of  the  body;  preopercle  covered  with 
small  scales,  scales  larger  on  opercle.     The  eye  is  on  a  line 
between  the  snout  and  posterior  angle  of  opercle,  one-third 
distant  from  the  snout,  and  is  about  five-eighths  of  an  inch  in 
diameter;  the  irides  are  dark  brown  above,  and  pale  yellow 
below.    Nostrils  small,  double.     Tongue  toothless;  both  jaws 
with  small  brushlike  teeth,  small  patches  of  the  same   on 
each  side  of  the  pharynx,  as  well  as  on  the  branchial  arches 
Branchial  rays  seven.     The  first  dorsal  fin  has  ten  sharr. 
spines,  the  anterior  ray  being  short;   the  second  dorsal  is 


m 


AMIltrrA9    ANOLBK'R  BOOK. 


covered  at  its  base  with  scales,  and  nas  fifteen  rays,  preceded 
by  an  obtuse  spi  i*?  of  half  their  length  ;  this  fln  is  arched,  and 
rounded  posteriorly.  The  "^ctorals  beginning  imnnul lately 
beri^mtk  the  point  of  the  ope.jle  are  yellow,  nearly  obovate 
in  shape,  and  have  eighteen  rays.  Ventrals  coimnoncing 
slightly  posteriorly,  have  five  branched  rays^  The  anal 
terminating  beneath  the  posterior  point  of  the  second  dorsal, 
has  two  sharp,  and  one  longt^r  obtuse  spine,  and  twelve 
branched  rays.  The  caudal  is  very  slightly  forked,  and  has 
eighteen  rays. 

The  specimen  which  the  wood-cut  at  the  head  of  this 
article  represents,  and  from  which  my  description  wa>«  taken, 
was  caught  early  in  September  near  Rouse's  Point,  on  Lake 
Champlain.  I  have  been  particular  in  my  description,  and 
find  it  differs  from  that  of  Agassi  z  and  De  Kay;  from  the 
former,  in  the  color,  8[)ines,  and  fln  rays.  The  difference  of 
color  I  attribute  to  the  season  of  the  year,  or  some  local  cause. 

I  regret  that  my  sketch,  which  is  accurate  as  regards 
proportions,  does  not  do  justice  to  the  original  in  other 
respects.  The  specimen  was  fourteen  and  a  half  inches  long, 
and  about  two  pounds  in  weight ;  one  of  four  pounds  taken 
on  the  same  day,  measured  only  eighteen  inches. 

There  is  some  difference  between  this  fish  and  his  Southern 
congener ;  he  is  much  stouter,  and  not  as  symmetrical  in  his 
proportions;  his  habits  and  manner  of  taking  th  •  bait  are 
much  the  same,  but  his  haunfs — from  the  differenc.p  in  the 
waters  which  he  inhabits — are  necessarily  unlik  •  '  i':  'urkiug. 
places  of  the  Southern  Bass.  The  Black  Bass  of  the  Lakes 
loves  the  rocky  shores  of  the  islands,  the  sand-bars,  and  reefs. 
L  takes  a  live  minnow  in  still-fishing,  which  is  by  far  a 
cio"v  ■  v  -tsm-'i'ilike  mode  of  capturing  him  than  trolling 
■    .  <on,*  though  the  latter  is  the  method  most  in 


wn:";i 


*  Buel's  patent  is  most  generally  used. 


THB    PBRCM    FAMILY. 


105 


voguo.     He  18  also  tn,> '  .i  for  with  Urge  ^.audy  flieH-«ol,l  at 
tlie  tackle  stores  expressly  for  the  purpcso-froin  tour  to  six 
of  thorn  being  attached  by  single  lengths  of  gut  to  a  long 
salmon  casting-line.   But  the  neatest  way  of  taking  these  fish  is 
practised  by  a  veteran  angler,  who  spends  part  of  his  su..   aers 
1.1  Trout-fishing  on  Manitoulin  Island  ;  to  vary  his  arausement 
1.0  takes  Black  Bass  from  the  shore,  with  a  stout  trout-rod. 
They  rise  so  readily  at  the  artificial  fly,  that  it  is  almost 
unsportsmanlike  to  kill  them  in  any  other  way.     In  trolling 
for  those  fish,  a  stout  rod  of  ten  feet  and  a  good  multiplyiug 
reel,  ccmtaining  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  yards  of  phuted  silk 
line,  are  required ;  a  pair  of  swivels  are  necessary  whe    using 
the  spoon,  but  may  be  dispensed  with  if  trolling  with  liies. 

Written  directions  for  trolling  from  a  boat  are  h  .rdly 
necessary,  as  the  boatman,  who  is  generally  acquainted  vith 
the  feeding.grounds,  rows  over  the  most  likely  places.  W  hen 
a  Bass  is  struck,  the  boatman  should  cease  rowing,  ana  as  he 
fish  IS  generally  securely  hooked  if  trolling  with  the  spoon, 
there  is  little  chance  of  his  escape,  except  from  undue  exeit.>' 
ment,  or  unskilful  handling  on  the  part  of  the  angler.  In 
trolling  with  a  gang  of  flies,  it  is  best  to  have  a  landing-net 
about  eighteen  inches  in  diameter. 

With  all  the  game  qualities  of  the  Black  Bass,  his  capture 
by  trolli,,,.  with  spoon  or  flies  does  not  afford  the  pleasure 
that  taking  fish  from  the   shore   does;   there   is   no   skill 
required  ,n  finding  the  game,  for  that  is  done  by  the  boat- 
man;  striking  is  not  necessary,  as  the  fish  hooks  himself,  and 
as  for  killing  him,  you  must  take  him,  to  get  him  off  the 
hook.     So,  in  going  out  with  a   boatman  who  knows  the 
waters,  it  necessarily  follows  that  the  merest  bungler  is  as 
fapt  to  have  as  good  a  catch  as  an   expert   angler.     It  is 
exciting  certainly,  when  trolling  with  flies,  to  h°ave  two  or 
three  plucky  fish  on  at  the  same  time,  fighting  hard,  and 


106 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK, 


leaping  above  the  water;  but  like  all  trolling  from  a  boat, 
one  lias  little  else  to  do  than  wind  up  his  line.  How  different 
from  putting  on  a  brace  of  light  hackles,  and  going  at  sun- 
down to  try  "a  comfortable  conclusion"  with  a  Trout  that 
refused  your  fly  at  midday  I 

Before  the  introduction  of  the  spoon,  the  best  fish  were 
taken  with  the  minnow,  by  still-fishing,  from  a  boat  anchored 
in  some  favorable  place,  a  long  rod  without  a  reel  being  used, 
or  a  shorter  one  with  the  reel,  and  a  good-sized  float.     This 
we  consider  far  preferable  to  trolling  with  that  deadly  and 
unsportsmanlike  implement,  the  spoon,  as  a  fish  will  always 
give  moro  sport,  and  has  a  better  opportunity  of  displaying 
his  pluck  when  he  commences  the  fight  at  close  quarters,  and 
increases  the  distance  by  bold  dashes  and  desperate  leaps, 
obliging  the  angler  to  give  and  take  line,  and  deal  promptly 
and  coolly  with  his  adversary ;  while  in  trolling,  you  strike 
him  at  a  long  distance,  and  though  he  veers  from  side  to  side, 
leaps  high,  and  fights  hard,  there  is  much  of  a  dead  pull  in 
winding  in  so  long  a  line,  while  it  strains  your  rod,  and  is 
distressing  to  the  works  of  a  good  reel. 

Black  Bass  were  once  abundant  in  Lake  George,  but  the 
steady  demand  for  them  at  the  watering-places  has  almost 
depopulated  that  beautiful  water,  and  those  that  remain  are 
mostly  small  fish,  taken  by  deep  still-fishing  with  a  drop-line. 
They  are  still  plentiful  at  the  northern  end  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain.     Alburg  Springs  is  a  favorite  place  for  an  angler's 
sojourn.     They  are  found  in  abundance  at  many  places  on 
the  shores  ot  Lake  Ontario,  at  Cape  Vincent,  and  Alexandiia 
Bay,  opposite  the  Thousand  Islands ;  also  in  the  Niagara  and 
Detroit  Rivers,  and  in  Lake  Erie.     Squaw  Island,  near  San- 
dusky City,  Ohio,  is  a  noted  place  for  them.     They  are  found 
likewise  in  Lake  St.  Clair  and  Lake  Huron. 

The  usual  route  for  anglers  of  the  Atlantic  cities  who  visit 


THE  PERCH   FAMILY. 


107 


the  Thousand  Isles,  is  by  the  New  York  Central  Eailroad  to 
Rome  thence  to  Cape  Vincent,  and  early  next  morning  by 
steamboat  to  Alexandria  Bay;  where  Eowe  Brothers  have 
quarters  that  would  have  delighted  Father  Izaak  himself  and 
where  boats  and  oarsmen  can  always  be  procured.  Anglers 
from  all  the  towns  of  New  York  on  the  Central  Railroad 
come  in  large  numbers  to  this  place,  and  have  immense  sport 
amongst  the  Bass,  Pickerel,  and  Mascalonae. 

Like  the  other  fish  of  this  genus,  the  Bass  is  esteemed  for 
the  excellence  of  its  flesh,  though  I  think  it  is  somewhat 
overrated. 

This  fish  differs  from  the  Oswego  Bass,  to  which  it  bears 
so  close  a  resemblance,  in  having  a  smaller  head,  and  its 
belly  less  protuberant,  though  the  position  of  the  fins  their 
shape,  and  number  of  spines  and  rays,  are  almost  identical 
It  spawns  in  the  spring  on  th.  breaking  up  of  the  ice,  when 
many  of  the  largest  fish  are  speared  on  their  spawning-beds 

An  officer  of  the  United  States  Engineer  Department,  who 
had  charge  of  the  construction  of  a  fort  or  lighthouse  on  Lake 
bt.  Clair,  some  twenty  years  ago,  informed  me  that  on  several 
occasions  he  took  scores  of  Black  Bass  by  trolling  with  a 
hand-hne  from  a  boat ;  the  average  size  was  four  pounds  •  he 
showed  me  the  artificial  bait  he  used,  which  was  a  large  Lim- 
erick  hook  about  an  inch  and  a  quarter  across  the  bend,  with 
a  white  feather  whipped  to  the  back  of  it. 


108 


AMERICAN    ANGLKR'S    BOOK. 


THE  STEIPED  BASS  OF  THE  OHIO. 

Labrax  chrysopa :   Rafinesqvb. 

I  adopt  the  scientific  name  given  by  the  naturalist  above 
quoted,  with  a  condensation  of  his  description. 

Body  oblong,  silvery,  with  five  parallel  longitudinal  stripes 
on  each  side,  two  of  which  reach  the  tail.  Lateral  line  diag- 
onal, but  straight.  Head  brown  above.  Mouth  large.  First 
dorsal  fin  eight  spines ;  second,  one  spine  and  fourteen  rays ; 
pectorals,  sixteen  rays ;  ventrals,  one  spine  and  five  soft  rays : 
anal,  one  spine  and  fourteen  rays ;  branchiostegous  rays,  six. 
The  tail  is  forked,  roseate,  tipped  with  brown. 

Though  this  fish  is  longer  in  its  proportions,  it  may  be  the 
same  species  as  the  Striped  Bass  found  at  the  mouths  of  the 
fresh-water  bayous  and  rivers  that  fall  into  Lakes  Ponchar- 
train  and  Borgne,  and  along  the  Gulf  coast ;  the  latter  being 
modified  by  a  change  of  its  habitat,  becoming  deeper  and 
more  compressed.  This  species  was  called  "  Kockfish"  by  the 
early  settlers  of  Kentucky,  who  supposed  it  to  be  identical 
with  the  Rockfish  of  the  Atlantic  States.  It  differs,  however, 
in  the  number  of  stripes  on  its  sides ;  the  Rockfish  has  eight 
and  this  only  five ;  the  other  has  two  spines  on  the  opercle, 
and  this  only  one ;  there  is  also  a  difference  in  the  number 
of  spinas  and  rays  of  the  fins. 

This  fish  has  been  takeu  in  the  Mississippi  above  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Missouri,  weighing  as  much  as  six  pounds 
though  that  size  is  extremely  rare.  I  have  never  taken  it 
above  a  pound.  The  largest  are  taken  with  a  live  minnow, 
and  no  doubt  afford  excellent  sport. 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


109 


THE  SHORT  STRIPED  BASS. 

1  regret  that  I  have  no  engraving  or  ichthyological  account 
of  this  pretty  fish,  but  if  the  reader  will  imagine  our  White 
Perch  with  stripes  on  its  sides  resembling  those  of  the  Rock- 
fish,  though  not  so  many  of  them,  he  will  have  this  Bass  in 
his  mind's  eye. 

There  is  also  a  variety  called  the  "Broken  Striped  Bass," 
which  I  have  no  doubt  is  of  the  same  species ;  for  we  frequently 
find  individual  cases  in  which  the  stripes  on  the  Rockfish  are 
not  continuous,  but  irregular  and  broken. 

The  Short  Striped  Bass  of  both  of  these  varieties  are  found 
frequently  in  great  abundance  in  Lakes  Ponchartrain  and 
Borgne.  and  along  the  Gulf  coast,  where  fresh- water  bayous 
and  rivers  come  in.     They  are  most  abundant  in  Lake  Pon- 
chartrain when  the  Mississippi  is  high,  and  discharges  some 
of  its  water  by  crevasses  or  smaller  channels  into  that  lake'. 
I  have  taken  fifteen  pounds  of  them  before  breakfast,  off  the 
pier  of  the  New  Orleans  and  Ponchartrain  Railroad.     With 
a  neat  rod,  a  float,  and  small  hooks,  they  afford  fine  sport. 
The  best  baits  are  shrimp,  the  head  and  legs  taken  off;  and 
the  hooks  baited  with  only  the  white  meat  of  the  body.    They 
are  not  inferior  to  the  White  Perch  of  this  latitude,  and 
resemble  them  much  in  flavor  and  firmness  of  flesh. 

The  Creoles  of  Louisiana  sometimes  call  these  fish  "Pattisa ;" 
this  name,  however,  is  applied  by  them  indiscriminately  to 
any  small  pan-fish.  They  are  taken  from  seven  to  twelve 
inches  in  length,  and  sometimes  longer;  though  nine  inches 
is  a  good  average  size. 


iV) 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


OSWEGO  BASS. 

This  fish  resembles  the  Black  Bass  so  closely,  that  tew 
anglers  have  any  appreciation  oi  the  differeiice.  It  is  taken 
on  the  same  feeding-ground,  and  in  the  same  way ;  it  leaps 
from  the  water  when  struck,  though  perhaps  not  as  often  as 
the  latter,  and  is  almost  as  game ;  its  flesh  is  said  to  be  inferior 
to  that  of  the  Black  Bass. 

The  only  difference  perceptible  to  the  angler,  is  the  greater 
bulk  of  this  fish  in  proportion  to  its  length,  a  greater  pro- 
tuberance of  belly,  and  larger  head. 

I  counted  nine  spines  and  fifteen  rays  on  the  dorsal  fin,  the 
pectorals  had  sixteen,  anal  thirteen,  preceded  by  two  short 
obtuse  spines  detached  from  each  other.  The  specimen  I 
examined  weighed  three  pounds,  was  sixteen  inches  long 
thirteen  in  girth,  and  five  and  a  half  broad.  There  is  cer- 
tainly a  specific  difference  between  the  two,  though  natu- 
ralists, as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  have  failed  to 
notice  a  fact  which  is  apparent  to  anglers. 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


Ill 


CEAPPIE,  SAC-A-LAI,  OR  CHINKAPIN  PERCH. 

Pomoxia  kexacanthus :   Cuvieb. 

Form— body  oval,  much  compressed;  breadth  compared 
with  length  as  3  to  7.  Lateral  line  concurrent  with  the  back. 
Head  small,  facial  line  much  depressed;  small  scales  on 
proopercle,  but  larger  on  the  opercle,  which  is  without  a 
spine ;  nostrils  small  and  double ;  a  few  denticulations  at  the 
lower  posterior  angle  of  opercle ;  branchial  rays  seven  ;  dorsal 
fin  seven  spines  and  sixteen  soft  rays;  pectorals  twelve, 
ventrals  one  spine  and  five  rays ;  anal  large,  with  six  spines 
and  eighteen  rays ;  caudal  eighteen  rays. 

There  are  five  indistinct  dark  lines  above  the  lateral  line 
in  the  fish  of  Louisiana,  but  wanting  in  those  of  Illinois ;  I 
have  found  dark  transverse  markings  on  the  latter.  The  back 
is  yellowish  blue ;  sides  silvery ;  belly  white,  tinged  with 
yellow.  The  pectorals  carnate  nearest  the  humeral  bone,  with 
a  light  shade  of  orange  at  the  tips ;  ventrals  pink,  tipped  with 


■ 


112 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


black ;  dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal,  with  dark  irregular  transverse 
markings.  Teeth  on  vomer,  tongue,  and  palatines  acute,  they 
are  small,  and  recurved  on  maxillaries. 

The  specific  name,  BexacarUhua,  is  significant ;  its  anal  fin 
being  armed  with  six  spines,  which  number  of  anal  spines 
exceeds  that  of  any  other  percoid,— at  least  as  far  as  the  writer 
has  observed. 

This  graceful  fish  is  known  by  the  Creoles  of  Louisiana  as 
the  "Sac-tl-Lai,"  where  it  is  also  sometimes  called  "Chinkapin 
Perch."  In  the  neighborhood  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  it  was  called 
originally  "  Crappie,"  by  the  old  French  habitans,  and  still 
bears  that  name.  It  is  known  in  some  of  the  north-western 
lakes  as  "  Grass  Bass."  It  is  found  in  the  Atlantic  States 
south  of  Cape  Hatteras,  in  the  bayous  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
Orleans,  and  all  the  creeks,  lakes,  and  ponds,  fed  by  the  over- 
flow of  the  Mississippi,  from  Louisiana  to  Minnesota.  It 
abounds  particularly  in  the  lakelets  of  what  is  termed  the 
"  American  Bottom,"  extending  along  the  Illinois  side,  oppo- 
site St.  Louis. 

The  lakes,  as  they  are  called  (though  they  are  more  properly 
ponds),  along  the  alluvial  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  become 
very  low  after  a  succession  of  dry  seasons,  and  the  fish  cease 
to  breed  in  them ;  this,  with  excessive  fishing  with  nets  and 
hooks,  almost  depopulates  those  waters ;  but  when  a  good  rise 
in  the  river  overflows  the  bottom  lands,  the  ponds  are  swept 
of  the  foul  water  and  replenished  with  fresh ;  and,  at  the  same 
time,  restocked  with  fish.  Then  it  appears  almost  miraculous 
where  the  vast  numbers  of  Crappies,  Bass,  Perch,  and  other 
fish  come  from,  and  there  is  no  other  way  of  accounting  for 
this  feet,  than  by  supposing  that  all  the  lakelets  and  streams 
of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  to  the  north,  have  thrown  oflF 

their  surplus  production,  which  they  appear  to  have  garnered 
up. 


THE   PEROn   FAMILY. 


118 


As  soon,  then,  as  the  water  becomes  clear  in  the  lakes  and 
ponds,  there  is  a  great  turnout  amongst  the  fishermen  of  St 
Louis.    But  to  have  good  sport  with  the  Crappies,  one  should 
get  on  the  right  side  of  Squire  Cogswell  or  of  Uncle  George 
Matlack  s  boys,  who  think  it  a  small  matter  to  hitch  up  their 
team,  and  stowing  in  tent,  ice-box,  minnow-kettle,  frying-pan 
and  provender  for  men  and  horses,  are  ready  at  almost  an; 
time  for  a  start  to  Long  Lake ;  or  thirty  miles  away  to  Mur 
dock  s  Lake,  for  Bass  and  Crappies. 

Crappies  are  frequently  taken  in  company  with  Bass.  Thev 
love  to  lie  in  the  brushwood,  and  about  the  bushy  tops  of 
trees  that  have  fallen  in  the  water ;  a  sultry  showery  day  is 
most  favorable  for  them. 

A  live  minnow,  hooked  below  the  back  fin,  is  the  best  bait  • 
a  substitute  for  which  may  be  found  in  a  wedge-shaped  piecJ 
of  fish,  with  the  smaller  end  pendent  from  the  hook ;  in  fish- 
mg  with  the  latter,  the  bait  should  be  kept  in  motion. 
Worms  are  objectionable,  as  they  attract  the  smaller  fish 
while  they  are  not  fancied  by  Crappies.  Shrimp  are  generally' 
used  by  the  New  Orleans  anglers. 

Whatever  be  the  depth  of  the  water,  the  float  (which  is 
generally  used)  should  not  be  more  than  three  or  four  feet 
above  the  hook.  As  the  mouth  of  the  Crappie  is  large,  a 
Kirby  hook.  No.  1  or  0,  is  to  be  preferred.  The  dangerous 
vicinity  of  brushwood  makes  the  use  of  the  reel  objectiona- 
ble;  for  then  it  is  necessary  to  secure  them  as  soon  as  pos- 
sil)le  after  being  hooked. 

Holbrook  states  the  extreme  length  of  this  fish  to  be 
twelve  inches.     I  have  seen  it,  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis,  as 

long  as  fifteen,  and  in  one  instance,  seventeen  inches. 

o 


114 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK 


YELLOW  BARRED  PERCH. 

Pffrca flaveacens :  Cuvier. 

Back  yellowish  green;  sides  yellow,  with  six  or  seven 
dark  vertical  bands;  body  compressed,  elongated;  back 
slightly  arched  and  tapering  towards  the  tail,  it  is  quite  slim 
between  the  second  dorsal  and  caudal  fin;  the  anal  and 
pectoral  fins  are  of  a  yellowish  red,  or  bright  orange ;  the 
first  dorsal  has  twelve  or  thirteen  spinous  rays;  the  second, 
two  spinous  and  fourteen  soft  rays ;  ventrals,  one  spine  and 
five  soft  rays ;  anal,  two  spines  and  eight  soft  rays ;  caudal, 
slightly  concave,  with  seventeen  rays.  There  are  some  beau- 
tiful tints  about  this  fish. 

Yellow-barred  Perch  are  found  in  most  of  the  large  north- 
ern lakes,  and  with  some  other  species  which  they  closely 
resemble,  as  far  south  as  Carolina,  inhabiting  tidal  waters  or 
lakes  indiscriminately.  They  are  easily  taken  with  minnows 
and  worms.  In  trolling  the  lakes  for  Black  Bass,  the  angler 
is  frequently  annoyed  by  the  great  numbers  of  these  Perch, 
and  holds  them  in  small  esteem  when  in  search  of  nobler 
prey. 


THB   PERCH   FAMILY. 


115 


SUNFISH.  • 

Pomotis  vulgaris :  Cuvier. 

There  are  several  species  of  Pomotis,  and  even  fish  of 
other  genera  known  as  "Sunfish."  A  diminutive  species 
of  the  genus  Centrachus  is  constantly  called  by  that  name. 
I  have  taken  a  synopsis  of  a  description  of  the  true  Sunfish 
{Pomotis  vulgaris),  from  Holbrook,  one  of  the  most  exact 
ichthyologists  of  our  day.  • 

Body  ovoidal  in  form,  convex  above  and  below,  but  straight 
on  the  belly;  color  of  body  brown,  with  a  greenish  tint 
above,  with  pale  blue,  waving,  horizontal  lines  on  the  preo- 
percle  and  opercle.  Opercular  appendix  dark,  with  a  bright 
red  blotch  on  its  posterior  margin.  The  dorsal  fin  has  ten  spines 
and  eleven  rays;  pectorals,  thirteen  rays;  ventrals,  one  spine, 
and  five  rays ;  anal,  three  spines  and  ten  rays ;  caudal,  seven- 
teen rays.  Mouth  small,  rather  protractile,  and  armed  with 
small  thickly-set  teeth.     Extreme  length  eight  inches. 

This  beautiful  little  fish,  associated  in  the  minds  of  all 
anglers  with  the  first  rudiments  of  a  piscatorial  education,  is 
known  in  the  Middle  and  Southern  States  as  the  Sunfish  or 


116 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


aii 


"  Sunny."  Yankee  boys  call  them  "  Punkin  Seeds,"  or  by  the 
more  euphonic  though  appropriate  name  of  "  Kivera ;"  prob- 
ably from  their  appropriate  shape  for  the  cover  of  a  tea-cup 
or  pickle  jar. 

It  is  a  bootless  task  to  describe  the  manner  of  taking 
Sunnies ;  any  incipient  angler  of  twelve  summers  would  beat 
Theophilus  South  or  Sir  Humphrey  J),  vy  at  catching  them. 

It  would  be  hard  to  tell  the  amount  of  early  Saturday 
morning  digging  for  earth-worms ;  or  how  much  bark-peeling 
of  old  logs  for  grubs ;  or  how  much  anxious  search  for  wasps' 
nests,  they  have  occasioned.  Or  how  many  long  sunsbiay 
Saturdays  have  been  spent  in  search  of  them ;  or,  when  altorrat- 
ing  swimming  with  fishing,  and  starkly  skirting  the  edge  of 
the  mill-pond,  how  often  the  youthful  "sans  culotte"  has 
dropped  his  bait  before  their  noses,  beside  the  old  stump  or 
big  rock,  and  "  whopped  them  out," 

Many  an  angler  will  remember  the  untiring  patience  with 
which,  in  boyhood,  he  has  displayed  his  w^orm-covered  houk 
before  a  half  score  of  these  pretty  fish,  and  seen  the  larger 
{dux  gregis)  separate  himself  from  the  rest  and  come  towards 
the  bait,  sail  majestically  around,  backing  and  filling,  eager, 
though  doubtful  of  the  cheat,  and  glaring  on  it  with  his  big 
permanent  eye,  and,  at  last,  just  as  the  little  angler  gives  up 
the  game,  and  is  despairingly  drawing  it  away,  with  a  bold 
rush,  the  Sunny  seizes  the  barbed  hook,  and  in  a  trice  he  is 
bouncing  on  the  grass,  and  a  hand  is  on  him  that  relaxes 
not  its  grasp  till  the  cruel  switch  is  thrust  through  his  gill. 

Sunfish  are  extremely  predatory  in  their  habits,  and  the 
tyrannical  little  fellow  of  our  aquarium,  whom  we  have 
dubbed  "  Captain  Walker,"  is  dearer  to  us,  because  he  is  a 
representative  of  those  we  were  accustomed  to  fish  for  in  our 
schoolboy  days. 

In  preparing  their  bed  for  spawning,  a  pair  of  Sunfish  will 


THE   PBROH    FAMILY. 


117 


clear  a  place  a  foot  or  two  in  diameter,  piling  up  the  gravel, 
chips,  and  twigs  on  the  margin;  at  such  times  they  refuse  a 
bait,  remove  anything  offensive  as  soon  as  it  drops  in,  and 
pugnaciously  drive  off  all  intruders. 

A  neat  line,  small  float  and  hooks,  number  six  to  ten,  are 
appropriate  tackle. 

I  have  a  valued  friend,  who,  although  long  since  passed  the 
meridian  of  life,  will  still  roll  up  his  trousers,  and  angle  for 
this  attractive  little  fish,  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  youthful 
days. 


118 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'SBOOK. 


BREAM. 

In  tho  Southern  States  this*  fish  is  called  "Bream/'  from  some 
fancied  likeness  to  the  European  fish  of  that  name,  which 
it  resembles  only  iu  its  outline.     The  true  Bream  belongs  to 
the  peaceable  family  of  Cyprinidw,  and  our  rapacious  little 
friend  to  the  Percidse.     The  first  attains  a  weight  of  five  or 
six  pounds,  in  England,  and  the  latter  is  seldom  taken  over 
eight  or  nine  inches  long.     It  is  found  in  nearly  all  of  the 
Atlantic  States,  and  generally  in  the  small  streams  and  lake- 
lets   through   the  whole   length   of  the   Mississippi  valley, 
decreasing  in  size  as  its  range  extends  northward.     It  is  an 
excellent  pan  fish,  its  flesh  being  firm,  crisp,  and  well  flavored. 
I  have  been  told  that  the  Red-Bellied  Bream  is  taken  of  a 
pound  weight  iu  the  still  waters  of  North  and  South  Carolina. 
There  are  two  species  of  Bream  described  by  Dr.  Ilulbrook. 
The  one  he  describes  as  "Ichlhylia  incisor;'  is  the  Blue  Bream, 
or  Copper-Nosed  Bream ;  it  seldom  exceeds  eight  inches  iu 
length.     The  other,  "  Ichthylis  ruhricunda;'  is  the  Red-Bellied 
Perch,  or  Red -Tailed  Bream. 

There  is  yet  another  Percoid,  with  brilliant  sides  and  dark 
green  mottled  back,  known  as  the  Goggle-Eye,  or  War- Mouth 
Perch.  Its  shape  is  different  from  either  of  tho  first  named, 
carrying  its  oval  form  no  farther  than  the  anal  fin,  where 
it  falls  off  suddenly,  and  is  thence  very  small  to  the  caudul. 
I  have  never  seen  a  description  of  it  in  any  work  on  iolithy- 
ology.  These  three  species  are  frequently  called  Sunfish,  or 
Sun  Perch,  and  are  taken  in  the  same  company. 


THE    PKiiCH    FAMILY. 


119 


Bream  arc  taken  with  shrimp,  minnows,  crawfish,  red  worms, 
or  a  wedK'-  shaped  finh-bait.  They  shouUl  be  fished  for  with 
a  aliglit  reed  rod,  short  line,  and  a  No.  3  Kirby  hook;  the 
bail  from  fifteen  to  twimty-four  inches  below  the  float,  Avhat- 
ever  be  the  depth  of  the  water.  They  haunt  the  mouths  of 
small  brunches  that  put  into  creeks,  pond.s,  or  bayous,  and  are 
found  around  old  stumps  and  logs,  and  love  to  lie  beneath 
the  scum  or  drift  of  sluggish  waters. 

In  fishing  the  bayous  in  the  South,  the  angler  frequently 
pushes  aside  the  light  drift  with  the  end  of  his  rod,  and  drops 
his  bait  into  an  opening  not  larger  than  the  crown  of  his  hat, 
and  in  a  short  time  has  captured  a  hatful  of  them.  They  are 
the  delight  of  all  juveniles;  a  little  urchin  of  ten  years 
frequently  catching  a  string  of  them  as  long  as  himself,  and 
when  Bass  are  not  on  the  feed,  they  are  the  dernier  reasort  of 
the  more  ambitious  angler. 

I  have  taken  all  three  of  these  species  in  Bayou  La  Branch, 
about  thirty  miles  north  of  New  Orleans,  on  the  Jackson 
Railroad,  going  and  returning  the  same  day.  With  a  pleasant 
companion,  a  bottle  of  claret,  ice,  and  cold  fowl,  the  day  would 
pass  pleasantly  enough.  In  the  month  of  April  the  black- 
berry bushes  that  grew  along  the  banks  of  the  bayou  were 
laden  with  fruit,  and  when  we  could  not  reach  them  from  the 
pirogue,  we  were  sometimes  tempted  to  go  ashore  for  them, 
at  the  risk  of  meeting  an  alligator  in  its  journey  from  the 
bayou  to  its  nest  in  the  canebrake.  It  was  a  dismal  water 
with  long  weepers  of  gray  moss  drooping  from  the  trees ; 
and  when  a  solitary  fisherman  paddled  his  canoe  over  the 
dark,  waveless  bayou,  his  form  in  the  distance  would  suggest 
the  idea  of  Old  Charon.  It  certainly  was  a  river  of  "sticks,''^ 
if  not  of  Acheron. 

Will  1  ever  wet  my  seagrass  line  in  Bayou  La  Branch 
again  ?     I  think  not. 


120 


AMERICAN    ANaLER'S    BOOK. 


PIKE  PERCH.    OHIO  SALMON. 

Lucioperca  Americana:  Cuvier. 

Of  the  many  misnomers  given  to  fish,  that  of  "Salmon,"  as 
applied  to  this,  is  the  most  inappropriate.  It  has  as  few  of 
the  characteristics  of  the  true  Salmon  as  the  Southern  Bass 
has  of  tlie  Trout.  Still  we  are  not  disposed  to  find  fault  with 
rustic  anglers  because,  in  the  absence  of  scientific  knowledge, 
thej  have  given  what  seemed  to  them  the  most  fitting  name 
for  it. 

Anglers  who  look  into  books  on  ichthyology  are  at  a  loss 
to  know  why  this  fish,  with  its  elongated  body  and  general 
appearance  so  unlike  the  Perch,  should  have  been  placed  in 
the  ftimily  Percidae.  The  scientific  name  "  Lucioperca"  (Pike 
Perch),  adopted  by  Cuvier,  indicates  its  affinity  to  the  Pike 
as  well  as  the  Perch.  Recent  ichthyologists,  however, 
amongst  whom  is  Mr.  Theodore  Gill,  are  in  favor  of  placing 
it  in  a  sub-family,  "  Percinse." 

Having  no  specimen  at  hand,  we  copy  from  Mr.  Gill's 
"Synopsis  of  the  sub-family  Percinse,"  and  his  description  of 
this  genus : — 

"Body  slender,  elongate,  fusiform,  covered  with  scales 
arranged  in  oblique  rows.  Head  semiconical,  quite  broad, 
with  cheeks  and  opercles  generally  covered  with  scales; 
isolated  patches  of  scales  on  the  sides  of  the  posterior  part 
of  the  head ;  rest  of  the  head  covered  with  naked  skin,  Pre- 
opercle  serrated.     Opercle  armed  with  from  one  to  five  spines. 


THE    PERCH    FAMILY. 


121 


-  Dorsal  fins  two,  the  first  supported  by  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
spines.  This  genus  is  peculiar  to  fresh- water  streams,  rivers, 
an  1  lakes  of  North  America." 

There  are  several  species  of  this  genus  found  in  Europe, 
where  it  is  known  as  the  Sandre. 

I  have  seen  this  fish  as  far  south  as  Memphis,  Tennessee. 
It  IS  common,  though  not  numerous,  in  all  the  tributaries  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi.  It  is  taken  in  Lake  Champlain 
where  it  is  called  Pike,  in  contradistinction  to  the  Pickerel 
found  there.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  Susquehanna  and 
Juniata  are  the  only  rivers  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Alle- 
ghames  where  it  is  found ;  but  it  is  not  as  abundant  as  it  once 
was  There  also,  as  west  of  the  mountains,  it  is  called 
"Salmon." 

Its  flesh,  which  is  perfectly  white,  is  highly  esteemed  by 
the  residents  along  the  Ohio  Eiver.  It  is  said  that  it  does 
not  bite  freely  at  a  bait.  When  fished  for,  a  live  minnow  is 
generally  used;  a  float  and  large  hook  are  required  in  still- 
fishing.  It  is  sometimes  taken  in  trolling  with  the  spoon  in 
Lake  Champlain.  It  is  taken  in  the  Alleghany  from  one  to 
four  pounds  in  weight,  by  trolling  with  a  minnow  at  the  foot 
of  the  rapids. 


122 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


BUFFALO  PERCH.    WHITE  PERCH  OF  THE  OHIO. 


Abloden  grunniens :   Rafinesque. 

Although  this  fish  is  known  by  the  above  common  names, 
it  is  not  a  species  of  Percidae,  but  belongs  to  an  entirely  different 
family,  that  of  Scienidae.  It  is  the  only  Scienoid  found  in 
our  rivers,  and  is  confined  to  those  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Alleghanies,  which  flow  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  I  have 
placed  it  amongst  the  species  of  this  family,  only  because  it 
has  the  common  name  of  Perch. 

Rafinesque's  description  of  this  fish,  which  was  published 
nearly  half  a  century  ago,  is  quite  interesting.  I  quote  from 
his  work  on  the  fishes  of  the  Ohio : — 

"Entirely  silvery,  upper  lip  longer,  lateral  line  curved 
upwards  at  the  base,  bent  in  the  middle  and  straight  poste- 
riorly, tail  lunate,  first  dorsal  fin  with  nine  rays,  the  first 
very  short,  the  second  with  thirty-five  rays,  the  first  spiny 
and  short. 

"  The  vulgar  names  of  this  fish,  are  "White  Perch,  Buffalo 
Perch,  Grunting  Perch,  Bubbling  Fish,  Bubbler,  and  Muscle 
Eater.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  found  in  the  Ohio, 
reaching  sometimes  to  the  length  of  three  feet,  and  the  weight 
of  thirty  pounds,  and  affording  a  delicate  food.  It  is  also  one 
of  the  most  common,  being  found  all  over  the  Ohio,  and  even 
the  Monongahela,  and  Allegheny,  as  also  in  the  Mississippi, 
Tennessee,  Cumberland,  Kentucky,  Wabash,  Miami,  and 
all  the  large  tributary  streams,  where  it  is  permanent,  since  it 
is  found  in  all  seasons  except  in  winter.  In  Pittsburgh  it 
appears  again  in  Februr.ry.     It  feeds  on  many  species  of 


THE   PERCH   FAMILY. 


128 


fishes;  suckers,  catfishes,  sunfishes,  &c.,  but  principally  on 
the  muscles,  or  various  species  of  the  bivalve  genus  Unio,  so 
common  in  the  Ohio,  whose  thick  shells  it  is  enabled  to  crush 
by  means  of  its  large  throat  teeth.     The  structure  of  those 
teeth  IS  very  singular  and  peculiar;  they  are  placed  like 
paving-stones  on  the  flat  bone  of  the  lower  throat  in  great 
numbers,  and  of  different  sizes;  the  largest,  which  are  as  big 
as  a  man's  nails,  are  always  in  the  centre;  they  are  inverted 
m  faint  alveoles,  but  not  at  all  connected  with  the  bone- 
their  shape  is  circular  and  flattened,  the  inside  always  hollow' 
with  a  round  hole  beneath:  in  the  young  fishes  they  are 
rather  convex,  and  evidently  radiated  and  mamillar,  while  in 
the  old  fishes  they  become  smooth,  truncate,  and  shining 
white.     These  teeth  and  their  bone  are  common  in  many 
•museums,  where  they  are   erroneously  called  teeth  of  the 
Buffiilo-fish,  or  of  a  Catfish.     I  was  deceived  so  far  by  this 
mistake,  and  by  the  repeated  assertions  of  several  persons  as 
to  ascribe  those  teeth  to  the  Buffalo-fish,  which  I  have  since 
found  to  be  a  real  catostomus;  this  error  I  now  correct  with 
pleasure. 

"A  remarkable  peculiarity  of  this  fish  consists  in  the 
strange  grunting  noise  which  it  produces,  and  from  which  I 
have  derived  its  specific  name.  It  is  intermediate  between 
the  dumb  grunt  of  a  hog  and  the  single  croaking  noise  of  the 
bull  frog ;  that  grunt  is  only  repeated  at  intervals  and  not  in 
quick  succession. 

"This  fish  is  either  taken  in  the'  seine  or  with  the  hook 
and  line;  it  bites  easily,  and  affords  fine  sport  to  the  fisher- 
men; It  spawns  in  the  spring,  and  lays  a  great  quantity  of 
eggs." 

The  fish  here  described,  though  quite,  common  in  the  Ohio 
River,  my  own  observation  leads  me  to  suppose  is  compara- 
tively scarce  in  the  Mississippi,  above  its  junction  with  the 
former  river. 


124 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK, 


At  the  time  of  the   Sauve  Crevasse,  in  the   Mississippi 
above  New  Orleans,  about  fifteen  years  since,  it  found  its  way 
into  Lake  Ponchartrain,  and  thence  into  Lake  Borgne,  and 
the  brackish  and  salt  waters  along  the  Gulf  coast,  where  it  is 
now  permanent.     It  is  very  prolific  and  has  improved  in  its 
flavor  and  appearance,  having  an  increased  silvery  brightness, 
is  more  elongated  in  form,  and  of  more  graceful  proportions. 
These  changes  are  no  doubt  owing  to  the  greater  abundance 
of  molluscs  and  Crustacea  found  in  its  new  habitat.    It  has 
the  true  characteristics  of  the  Scienoids,  which  are  mollusc- 
eating  fishes,  indigenous  to  shoal  salt  water.    It  is  not  very 
unlike  the  Croaker  in  shape  ;  it  makes  a  similar  noise,  and  is 
sometimes  takec  in  company  with  that  fish.     The  pharyn- 
gal  bones,  with  their  peculiar  crushing  teeth,  closely  resem- 
bles those  of  the  Drum-fish. 

When  young  this  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the 

Acanthopterri.  I  have  never  seen  it  larger  than  five  pounds  in 

the  New  Orleans  market,— there  it  is  generally  of  a  good  size 

for  the  pan.    In  the  Ohio  it  attains  four  or  five  times  that 

size,  ten  or  twelve  pounds  not  being  uncommon.     This  is  no 

doubt  the  fish  referred  to  in  the  "American  Angler's  Guide," 

(page  220),  in  these  words :— "  Of  the  Catfish.— This  is  the 

common  fish  of  the  western  waters,  and  is  taken  bv  western 

sportsmen   by  squid    and    fly-trolling,   and   affords   capital 

•amusement.     They  take  their  name  from  the  noise  they 

make,  similar  to  the  purring  of  a  cat." 

I  have  never  heard  them  called  "Catfish"  along  the  Ohio 
or  Mississippi,— that  name  being  applied  only  to  the  big- 
mouthed  fish,  known  all  over  the  South  and  West  by  that 
appellation ;  they  do  not  take  a  squid  or  fly.  Mr.  Brown  has 
doubtless  been  imposed  upon,  by  some  person  addicted  to 
telling  "fish  stories." 


CHAPTER  V 


THE   PIKE   FAMILY 


"  Oreen  ulr  thy  waters— greea  as  bottle  glasa 

They  lay  strutchcd  thar ; 
Fine  Muscaloiigy  and  Uswegu  Bass 

Are  ketchcd  thar ; 
Wonst  the  red  Injuns  thar  took  their  delights, 

Fiuht,  fit  and  bled ; 
Now  the  iDhabltanta  is  mostly  whites 
With  nary  red." 

From  "  A  Node  to  Lake  Ontario,"  found  in  the 
"  K  N  Ptpper  /bpcrj,"— quoted  from  memory. 


CHAPTER  V. 


THB  PIKE  FAMILY — ESOCIDiB. 

Remarks  on  thk  Pike  Family.  Mascalonge  pictured  by  Cuvier.— Eu 
ropean  species.— American  species.— The  Garfish ;  manner  of  taking 
it.— Dr.  Bethune's  remarks  on  Pikes.— Their  introduction  into  Eng- 
land.—Pliny's  Pike.— Gesner's  Pike. 

The  Great  Lake  Pickerel.     Esox  lucioides. —TroWmg  from  a  boat  fop 
Pickerel. 

The  Mascalonge.     Esox  estor. — Angling  for  Mascalonge. 

The  Pond  Pike,     Esox  re<icufe<u».— Pike-fishing.- Trolling  for  Pike  with 

the  gorge-hook.— Pike-fishing  in  Eastern  Virginia. 
The  Great  Blue  Pike. 
The  Little  Pike  of  Lono  Island. 
The  Streaked  Pike  of  the  Ohio.— Story  told  about  a  Pike  taken  in  the 

Kanawha. 

In  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes'  great  work,  the  only  fish  of 
this  family  I  find  pictured  is  our  Mascalonge,  Esox  estor. 
The  figure  is  incorrectly  colored,  and  in  its  markings  re- 
sembles the  Great  Northern  Pickerel,  Esox  lucioides,  rather 
than  the  fish  it  is  intended  to  represent.  There  iire  but  few 
species  of  Pikes  found  in  Europe.  Esox  Indus,  which  is 
common  both  to  England  and  the  Continent,  is  a  handsome 
fish  and  grows  to  a  large  size. 

I  think  it  quite  likely  that  there  are  American  species  of 
this  family  which  have  not  yet  been  described.  Be  Kay, 
Eichardson,  and  Hclbrook,  jointly,  do  not  mention  more  than 
six  or  seven.    Besides  the  Mascalonge  and  Great  Northern 

(127) 


128 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Pickerel,  I  am  impressed  with  the  idea  that  there  are  two 
other  species  in  Lake  Ontario.     The  large  fish  called  the 
"Blue  Pike"  or  "Black  Pike,"  found  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia,  west  of  the  Alleghauies,  which  equals  the  Masca- 
longe  in  size,  and  another  species  found  in  the  Ohio  and  its 
tributaries,  I  have  never  seen  properly  described  or  pictured. 
Frank  Forester,  in  his  remarks  on  the  Esocidse,  assigns  the 
Great  Garfish  of  the  Southern  and  Western  States  to  this 
family,  calling  it  "  Esox  osseua:'    There  can  be  no  generic 
affinity  between  the  two.    The  Gar  {Lepido3teus),  as  I  have 
remarked  on  a  preceding  page,  is  one  of  the  few  representa- 
tives of  the  ancient  order  of  Ganoids  remaining  at  the  present ; 
while  the  Pikes,  according  to  Hugh  Miller,  were  not  ushered 
into  existence  until  perhaps  millions  of  years  after.    Even  if 
they  had  been  cotemporaneous  in  Creation,  the  two  orders, 
being  so  entirely  different,  would  not  admit  of  such  classifi' 
cation. 

In  the  waters  along  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  Gars  are  frequently 
an  annoyance  to  the  fisherman;  they  appear  sometimes  in 
numbers,  scaring  away  other  fish,  taking  off  one's  bait,  and 
often  cutting  the  line  with  their  sharp  teeth,  while  there  is 
hardly  a  possibility  of  hooking  them  in  their  hard  bony  jaws. 
I  have  tried  frequently  to  secure  one,  but  was  never  success- 
ful.    A  friend  has  since  told  me  of  a  way  of  taking  them,  in 
which  he  says  the  negroes  are  more  fortunate ;  he  describes 
It  thus :— A  noose  is  made  by  passing  a  string  through  a  fish 
of  suitable  size,  say  of  seven  or  eight  inches,  lengthwise, 
which   can  be  done  with  a  long  baling-needle,  and  then 
through  a  loop  at  the  other  end  of  the  string,  where  it  is  tied 
to  the  tip  of  a  long  pole  or  stout  reed.     The  fish  is  adjusted 
so  as  to  form  the  base  of  a  triangle,  the  slip-knot  being  at  the 
upper  angle,  nearest  the  pole.     This  triangular  snare°is  then 
displayed  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  dabbled  up  and 


THE   PIKE   FAMILY. 


12» 


down  to  attract  the  notice  of  the  Gar,  whieh  soon  appears, 
and  as  it  seijsea  the  fish  crosswise  (which  is  its  custc.i)  it 
runs  Its  long  upper  jaw  or  rather  its  bill  into  the  noose  when 
the  string  is  tightened  by  lifting  the  pole,  and  the  Gar  drawn 
ashore.  I  have  heard  it  said  that  the  Alligator  Gar  has  been 
taken  as  long  as  eight  feet. 

Dr.  Bethune  in  his  notes  to  his  edition  of  Walton,  says- 
"  The  name  E,ox  is  first  used  by  Pliny,  who  describes  a  great 
fish  in  the  Rhine,  which  attained  the  size  of  a  thousand 
pounds  (!  I  !),  was  caught  with  a  hook  attached  to  a  chain 
{catmato  hamo),  and  drawn  out  by  oxen  {bourn  Jngis)."  Of  its 
introduction  into  England  he  remarks:  "The  Pike  is  said  to 
have  been  brought  into  England  about  the  time  of  the 
Reformation,  according  to  a  distich  erroneously  quoted  by 
Walton,  when  speaking  of  the  Carp,  from  Baker's  Chronicles 
0^.  317,  ed.  1665),  where  it  is, 

'  Turkeys,  Carps,  Hoppes,  Piccarel,  and  Beer, 
Came  into  England  all  in  or  q  year  ;' 

i.  e.,  the  fifteenth  year  of  Henry  VIII.  This  is,  however,  all 
error.  Pike  or  Pickerel  were  the  subject  of  legal  regulations 
in  the  time  of  Edward  I.  Turkeys  were  brought  from 
America  about  1521.     Hops  were  introduced  about  1524." 

The  Doctor  says  that  Pliny,  in  his  description  of  the  thou- 
sand pounder,  wrote  only  from  hearsay.  In  alluding  to 
Gesner's  Pike,  he  quotes  Bloch,  the  ichthyologist,  who  slys- 
"Tiiis  Pike  was  fifteen  feet  long,  and  weighed  three  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  His  skeleton  was  for  a  long  time  preserved 
at  Manheim." 

Pickering,  in  his  Piscatorial  Reminiscences,  speaks  of  a 
Pike  killed  (caught)  in  Loch  Spey  that  weighed  one  hundred 
and  forty-six  pounds.     Of  another  of  twenty-eight  pounds  in 


ISO 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


i 

I 


which  the  cook  found  a  black  ribband  and  keys.  Quoting 
Dodaley's  Register,  1765,  he  says:  "In  emptying  a  pool 
which  had  not  been  fished  for  ages,  at  Lilleshall  Lime  Works 
near  New  Port,  an  enormous  Pike  was  found,  weighing  one 
hundred  and  seventy  pounds." 

It  is  said  that  Pikes  will  eat  all  the  smaller  fish  in  a  con- 
fined pond,  and  then  the  larger  will  devour  the  smaller,  until 
at  last  only  the  largest  remains,  a  solitary  proprietor  of  the 
domain. 

After  being  so  amiable  as  to  quote  the  foregoing  "fish 
stories,"  without  openly  expressing  a  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of 
them,  it  would  hardly  be  fair  in  the  reader  to  doubt  the  story 
of  a  large  Pike  on  a  subsequent  page,  which  was  told  to  me 
by  the  hostler  of  a  hotel  in  Wheeling,  twenty  years  ago. 

The  term  "  Pickerel"  is  applied  to  all  fish  of  this  genus, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Mascalonge,  by  the  people  of  New 
York  and  the  Eastern  States.  In  the  Middle  States  they  are 
called  "  Pike,"  and  in  Virginia  and  further  South  they  go  by 
the  name  of  "  Jackfish." 


noting 
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THE    ITKR    FAMILY. 


181 


GKEAT  LAKE  PICKEREL. 

Enox  lucioidea. 

The  bo,ly  of  this  fish  presents  the  characteristics  of  all  the 
Ike  Hunly,  carrying  the  breadth  of  body  well  aft,  even  to 
1.0  anal  fin;   its  section  is  almost  rectangular.     Length  of 
head  compared  with  body  as  seven  a.ul  a  half  to  twenty  eight- 
breadth  one-seventh  ;  back  one-twelfth.  ' 
Color,  dark  bluish-green  above,  with  a  lighter  tinge  of  the 
same  on  the  sides.     Belly  white.     The  markings  are  white, 
irregularly  shaped  on  the  back,  but  rectangular  on  the  side, 
and  twice  or  thrice  as  bug  as  they  are  wide. 

The  head  is  long,  depressed  between  the  eyes,  witli  a  slight 
upward  curve  of  the  snout.  The  under  jaw  has  also ''an 
upward  curve,  nn.l  projects  beyond  the  snout;  it  is  armed  on 
each  side  with  seven  long  sharp  teeth  projecting  forward  but 
with  the  ,,oints  curved  somewhat  back.  The  teeth  of  the 
upper  jaw  are  shorter  and  inverted.  The  palatine  teeth  are 
gradually  larger  towards  the  von.er.  The  vnn.er,  pharynx 
ami  branchial  arches  have  teeth  which  are  shorter,  but  not 
less  keen. 

The  eye  has  its  posterior  margin  nearly  half  way  between 
the  snout  and  angle  of  opercle,  and  is  slightly  below  the 
aoial  line ;  its  diameter  is  about  one-tenth  the  length  of  the 
head. 

The  sj,,  cimen  I  examined  exhibited  a  deficiency  in  the 
number  of  fin-rays  as  compared  with  I'rank  Forester's  de- 


182 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


scription.  There  are  fourteen  branchial  rays.  The  dorsal  fin, 
which  is  one-eighth  the  lengtli  of  the  body,  has  eighteen  rays ; 
pectorals  fifteen;  ventrals (midway  between  snout  and  end  of 
the  caudal),  fifteen  rays ;  anal  (slightly  posterior  to  the  dorsal), 
fifteen.  The  caudal  is  bilobed,  rather  than  forked;  it  has 
eighteen  rays  reaching  the  posterior  margin,  and  two  or 
three  stout  rudimentary  rays  above  and  below  them;  the 
upper  lobe  of  the  caudal  is  the  longer. 

For  want  of  a  better  artist,  T  was  induced  five  or  six  years 
since,  when  on  a  visit  to  the  Thousand  Isles,  to  try  my  hand 
for  the  first  time  on  this  fish ;  and  with  the  aid  of  an  inch 
measure — for  it  is  a  purely  mechanical  production — made  as 
correct  a  drawing  as  I  could.  The  figure  at  the  head  of  this 
article  is  a  reduced  copy  of  it.  As  I  had  never  seen  the  pecu- 
liar markings  of  this  fish  correctly  drawn,  I  took  some  pains  to 
do  so.     My  description  is  from  one  taken  at  the  same  time. 

This  fish  is  known  about  the  Thousand  Isles  as  the  Marsh 
Pickerel,  and  is  found  more  generally  in  the  coves  and  on  the 
flats  than  in  the  deep  water.  The  "Channel  Tickerel,"  which 
I  suppose  to  be  another  species,  is  a  more  symmetrical  fish, 
with  less  fulness  of  body  between  the  dorsal  fin  and  the  tail. 
It  has  a  yellow  iiastead  of  a  leaden  tinge.  The  markings  are 
three  times  as  numerous  and  about  one-third  the  size,  though 
of  tne  same  shape  as  those  of  tlie  Marsh  Pickerel ;  it  is  found 
generally  in  deep  water.  There  is  a  third  variety,  which  is 
shorter  in  the  body  than  either  of  these,  but  the  colnr  and 
markings  the  same  as  the  Marsh  Pickerel;  some  of  them, 
though,  are  the  shape  of  the  letter  L,  with  the  lower  limb 
elongated.     It  is  called  the  "Short  Pickerel." 

The  larger  species  (the  Marsh  Pickerel)  grows  to  the 
weight  of  twenty-five  pounds ;  it  is  even  said  that  it  has  been 
taken  as  high  as  thirty-eight.  It  is  common  in  the  St.  Law- 
rence and  Lake  Ontario,  and  all  of  their  connecting  waters. 


THE   PIKE   FAMILY. 


183 


and  in  Lake  Champlain.     It  has  been  introduced  into  Lake 
George  within  the  last  seven  or  eight  years. 

Pickerel  are  taken  almost  entirely  by  trolling  with  some 
artificial  spinning  bait;  of  these  the  murderous  implement 
called  the  spoon  is  in  general  use.  A  stout  trolling-rod  often 
feet,  a  multiply ing-reel  with  a  hundred  yards  of  plaited-silk 
line,  and  the  spinning  bait,  attached  by  one  or  two  swivels, 
completes  the  troller's  outfit.  A  gaflf  is  sometimes  used ;  but 
as  the  fish,  when  he  is  drawn  up  to  the  boat,  has  generally 
two  or  three  hooks  in  his  jaws,  it  is  not  required. 

Alexandria  Bay,  near  the  Thousand  Isles  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence, is  a  favorite  resort  for  those  who  fish  for  Pickerel.     In 
trolling  for  them,  when  the  angler  takes  his  seat  in  the  boat, 
he  generally  finds  his  oarsman  supplied  with  one  or  two 
stout  cedar  poles,  which  by  your  permission  he  will  rig  out 
on  one  or  both  sides,  like  studding-sail   booms.     Trailing 
from  each  of  these  poles,  there  will  be  thirty  or  forty  yards 
of  strong  hemp  line,  with  a  spoon  attached  by  a  swivel ;  and 
while  he  looks  after  them,  he  leaves  you  to  the  enjoyme'nt  of 
your  jointed  rod,  your  multiplying-reel,  and  your  pipe,  in  the 
stern.     When  a  fish  is  hooked  the  boatman  slacks  his  speed, 
keeping  easy  way  to  prevent  the  lines  on  the  other  rods  from 
becoming    entangled,   or  tl^e   spoons  from    sinking   to   the 
bottom.     If  the  fish  be  on  the  line  attached  to  the  native  rod, 
you  throw  the  point  forward,  grasp  the  line,  and  pull  in.  the 
victim  hand  over  Imnd.     As  he   nears  the  boat,  he  will 
perhaps  raise  his  head  out  of  the  water  and  rattle  the  spoon 
(in  the  oarsman's  vernacular,  "ring  the  bell").    By  the  time 
you  get  him  alongside  he  is  generally  docile;  when  you  put 
your  hand  over  and  grasp  him  by  the  nape  of  the  neck,  bring 
him  on  board,  disengage  the  hooks,  give  him  a  few  taps  on 
the  head  with  a  stick  kept  in  the  boat  for  that  purpose,  and 
the  drama  is  played  out.     When  you  strike  a  fish  with  your 


184 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


own  rod,  if  you  request  it,  the  boatman  will  cease  rowing, 
draw  his  lines  in,  and  let  you  fight  your  adversary  in  your 
own  way,  which  after  all  is  not  much  of  a  fight,  and  after  a 
steady  strain  on  your  rod  and  reel,  he  is  drawn  in  and 
knocked  on  the  head,  as  just  described. 

The  number  and  weight  of  Pickerel  taken  in  a  day's  fishing 
in  this  way  is  considerable;  though  I  cannot  see  that  the 
wear  and  tear  of  fine  tackle  expended  on  them  is  justified  by 
trolling  for  them,  with  any  other  than  that  used  by  the  natives. 
But  to  one  to  whom  anglmg  is  really  "the  contemplative 
man's  recreation,"  the  fairy  boat,  the  clear  deep  water,  and  the 
beauty  of  the  Thousand  Isles,  are  suggestive  of  the  far-off 
times,  when  the  Indian  in  his  bark  canoe,  the  early  explorer, 
the  devout  Jesuit  missionary,  and  hardy  voyageurs  passed 
over  the  great  inland  seas  and  their  connecting  witers;  and 
strange  legends,  traditions,  and  history  almost  forgotten  come 
up  before  him. 


if  *  I 


THE   PIKE   FAMILY. 


185 


MASCALONGE. 

Esoxeator:  Cuvier. 

Bodj  elliptical,  elongated ;  section  oval,  not  quadrancrular 
as  in  the  Pickerel.     Color  green,  with  a  tint  of  steel  blue  on 
the  back,  shading  lighter  and  into  a  bluish  pearl  color  on  the 
-tes;  the  body  is  covered  with  round  or  oval  spots  of  much 
'.rker  color.     Belly  white;    the  whole  body  has  a  pearly 
lustre.     Head  not  quite  one-fourt^  of  its  length,  and  very 
slender,  causing  it  to  appear  much  logger  in  proportion  to 
length  of  body  than  it  really  is ;  tL    skuII  depressed  between 
the  eyes,  and  the  profile  concave  between  the  eyes  and  snout- 
upper  part  of  preopercle  and  opercle  covered  with  small  deep 
green  brilliant  scales,  those  on  opercle  are  the  larger     Eyes 
large,  near  the  top  of  the  head,  and  midway  between  snout 
and  angle  of  opercle.     Irides  light  yellow.     Cheeks  and  oiH. 
covers  resembling  gray  pearl,  with  four  or  five  clouded  spots 
on  preopercle,  and  one  or  two  on  opercle.     Upper  jaw  broad 
verging  to  a  point;  under  jaw  terminated  with  an  upward 
curve.     Branchial  rays  seventeen,  the  series  extending  high 
up  against  the  opercle.     The  arrangement  of  teeth  similar 
but  not  quite  the  same  as  in  the  Pickerel.     Fins  all  covered 
with  dark  spots  half  the  size  of  those  on  the  body.     I  counted 
in  my  specimen  seventeen  rays  in  the  pectoral  fins,  which  are 
pinnate  m  shape,  a.xd  situated  beneath  the  extremity  of  the 
gill-cover.     Ventrals  slightly  posterior  to  its  mid-length  with 
twelve   rays.      Anal   seventeen.      Dorsal  two-thirds   length 


i 


186 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


from  the  snout,  twenty-two  rays.  The  caudal,  which  is 
deeply  lunate,  has  twenty-eight  rays ;  the  six  in  the  centre 
are  branched. 

The  specimen  from  which  Frank  Forester's  drawing  was 
taken  must  have  been  unusually  stout;  a  fish  of  eighteen 
pounds  should  measure  over  three  feet,  instead  of  two  and  a 
half  My  representation  is  a  drawing  of  a  smaller  specimen ; 
like  the  picture  of  the  Great  Northern  Pickerel,  it  is  an  attempt 
of  my  own,  which,  though  rude,  is  mathematically  correct  in 
its  proportions. 

The  Mascalonge  differs  materially  from  the  Pickerel  de- 
scribed on  a  preceding  page ;  the  head  is  extremely  small,  a 
section  of  the  body  presenting  almost  an  oval ;  the  njouth  is 
smaller,  not  opening  so  for  back ;  the  color  of  its  body  much 
more  silvery,  the  spots  being  dark  instead  of  white,  also  of 
different  shape,  and  much  larger  than  in  the  Pickerel.  The 
tail  of  the  Pickerel  is  bilobed ;  while  that  of  the  Mascalono-e 
is  deeply  lunate. 

It  is  said  that  this  fish  is  found  in  the  "Wisconsin  and 
Upper  Mississippi,  about  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  It  is 
generally  sought  for  in  the  upper  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  the  smaller  lakes  on  the  Canada  side,  by  anglers  from  the 
Eastern  cities.  From  all  accounts  they  were  never  numerous ; 
the  angler  who  captures  four  or  five  of  fair  size  in  a  day's 
fishing  at  Alexandria  Bay,  is  considered  in  luck.  Eico  Lake, 
farther  west  on  the  Canada  side,  is  said  to  afford  them  in  some 
abundance,  though  twelve  or  fifteen  of  six  or  seven  pounds 
weight  is  reported  to  be  a  good  day's  fishing  even  there. 

This  fish  is  said  to  attain  a  weight  of  sixty  or  seventy 
pounds,  but  gerxcrally  it  does  not  exceed  the  size  of  the  Blue 
Pike  taken  in  the  rivers  and  small  lakes  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania. Its  size  varies  from  three  to  thirty  pounds ;  a  few 
have  been  taken  as  high  as  forty ;  one  or  two  instances  only 


K'\ 


! ! 


!i 


THE    PIKE    FAMILY. 


187 


;:jf'"  of  „be.  .he  .eight  ..  .  „,,H  .  .even., 

have  m„.  pluek  than  the  Intjl     I  """'  "■"' 
who  hold,  a  stout  trollin^.rod     V  M         ""'"^''^"y ""«'- 

Who  ^r:  i:?-:i-  J— ~d  hette.  th.,, 
.«it  on  a  cushioned  sea,  with  a  cu  h  nrfblT  T  ""' 
a  boat,  and  s„fe  themselves  to  be  puld  «!„;;?'""  ■",' 
a  .roUi„g..od  extended  fro.  each  sfde  I  nev"  ^  m'  """' 
ciate  this  inactive  mod,,  of  ,  i  ■      ^  ,       "*'<'"°"M  appre- 

than  coclcney  p^n  &ht,       ,  ,'"^       '  "'"°'  "  ""'"  •>««- 
skill     Tf        P  "' °.*'"S'  ""<'  ""oes  not  require  one-tenth  the 
-fall     If  spoon.flsbmg  had  been  practised  in  Maelzel'  d 
and  that  ingenious  man  had  been  an  an.,ler  „    f  ^  ^' 
would  have  constructed  an  automato:  pS^.:;^^'  "^ 


188 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


I 


THE  POND  PIKE,  OR  COMMON  PIKE. 

The  smaller  species  of  Pikes  are  confined  almost  exclusively 
to  the  streams  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Alleghanies.  There 
is  much  resemblance  in  their  general  appearance.  I  give  the 
wood-cut  at  the  head  of  this  article,  as  a  general  representative 
of  the  whole. 

The  Pond  Pike  is  not  often  taken  above  five  pounds,  its 
average  being  less  than  a  pound  and  a  half.  They  are  seldom 
if  ever  captured  by  trolling  with  a  spoon ;  I  suppose,  for  the 
reason  that  they  are  not  fished  for  in  that  way.  The  live 
bait  is  used  in  still-fishiug,  when  the  Pike  generally  takes 
it  near  the  bank,  where  he  is  in  the  habit  of  looking 
for  small  fish.  In  fishing  a  pond,  where  there  are  water- 
lilies,  grass,  or  other  aquatic  vegetation,  it  is  generally  from 
a  boat,  with  a  long  light  rod,  the  bait  a  minnow,  frog's  leg, 
a  piece  of  the  Pike's  belly,  or  a  strip  of  pork. 

The  Pike  of  England  is  larger  than  our  common  Pond 
Pike,  and  doubtless  more  worthy  of  the  elaborate  tackle  and 
scientific  angling  used  in  its  capture.  And,  although  there 
is  a  prevalent  indisposition  amongst  our  anglers  to  learn  any- 
thing out  of  a  book,  there  are  still  a  few  who  have  profited 
by  the  lessons  taught  in  English  books,  and  use  the  leaded 
gorge-hook,  with  much  advantage  over  the  usual  manner  of 


THB   PIKE   FAMILY. 


180 


fishing  for  them  here.  The  tackle  and  the  mode  of  taking 
thorn,  described  with  so  much  minuteness  by  Ilofland  and 
Salter,  are  seldom  resorted  to  in  this  country.  Our  anglers 
having  80  many  fish  amongst  the  Perch  and  Salmon  famnies, 
and  salt-water  species,  affording  an  infinite  deal  more  sport,' 
the  Pike  of  our  ponds  are  considered  fish  of  secondary  or 
third-rate  importance. 

When  fishing  a  pond  from  a  boat,  the  snood  should  have 
two  hooks,  the  smaller  about  two  inches  above  the  larger; 
the  end  of  the  bait  or  head  of  the  minnow  being  held"  by 
the  upper,  while  the  lower  hook  is  passed  through  it  mid- 
way. When  the  Pike  takes  the  bait  he  should  be  allowed  to 
run  a  short  distance;  the  line  should  then  be  tightened  and 
the  angler  strike,  and  get  the  fish  into  the  boat  as  soon  as 
possible,  never  allowing  him  any  slack  line. 

Trolling  fok  Pike  with  a  GoRGB-IIooK.—Where  there 
are  deep  holes  close  in  by  the  bank,  trolling  with  the  gorge- 
hook  is  far  more  successful  than  any  other  mode.     A  go'^od 
bass  rod  of  twelve  feet,  with  metallic  guides  and  tip,  and  an 
easy-running  reel  with  forty  yards  of  plaited-silk  line,  nre 
then  required:  a  tin  bait-box,  carried  at  one's  side  like  a 
powder-flask,  is  best  to  hold  the  minnows  used  for  bait ;  they 
should  have  bran,  coarse  meal,  or  saw-dust  put  in  with  them, 
to  prevent  their  rubbing  or  bruising.     A  piece  of  gimp  of 
tweVe  inches  is  attached  by  a  box-swivel  to  the  line,  and  a 
hook-swivel  is  fastened  at  the  other  end  of  the  gimp,  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  off  or  putting  on  the  bait  after  it  is  placed 
o;i  the 


fir^ymaf^fj^jr.^jMj^^f^ft,   ,,  ^ 


GORGE-HOOK. 


'i 


:!,. 


t 


ii',^: 


I'll ' 


1 

M 


140 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


The  disgorgiug-hook  and  baiting-needle  are  considered 
superfluous  by  American  trollers,  a  forked  stick  being  used 
to  disengage  the  bait  when  it  is  far  down  the  fish's  throat. 

In  putting  on  the  minnow  fi)r  a  bait,  the  tv/isted  wire  to 
which  the  leaded  hook  is  fastened  is  put — small  end  foremost 
of  c(jurse — into  the  mouth  of  the  bait,  and  worked  a^ong  the 
backbone  until  it  comes  out  at  the  tail,  when  it  is  drawn 
entirely  through,  the  lead  lying  in  the  belly  of  the  minnow. 
The  tail  and  back  fins  are  then  nipped  oft'  with  a  knife,  or 
with  the  thumb  and  finger-nails,  and  the  minnow  bent  slightly 
near  the  tail  to  insure  its  spinning  or  twirling,  and  attached 
to  the  gimp  by  the  hook-swivel.  In  trolling,  the  minnow  is 
'drawn  through  the  water  tail  foremost.  If  you  cast  much 
among  weeds  and  grass,  it  is  necessary  to  tie  the  tail  of  the 
bait  to  the  wire  of  the  gorge-hook,  with  a  few  turns  of  coarse 
thread ;  it  is  perhaps  better  in  all  cases.  English  anglers  are 
sometimes  so  nice  as  even  to  sew  up  the  mouth  of  the 
minnow. 

With  a  line  of  convenient  length,  not  longer  than  the 
rod,  approach  the  bank  carefully,  casting  close  in  shore, 
dropping  the  bait  in  softly,  and  by  successive  short  pulls, 
raising  and  lowering  the  point  of  your  rod,  draw  it  towards 
you.  You  will  notice  that  as  you  lower  the  point  of  the 
rod,  the  bait  shoots  forward  and  downward  with  a  spiral 
motion,  assisted  in  its  twirling  by  the  easy  turning  of  the 
swivels  and  its  having  been  bent,  and  that  it  spins  or 
twirls  in  the  same  way  as  it  is  d-awn  towards  you.  When 
you  have  drawn  in  the  bait  sufficiently  near  you  by  these 
short  pulls,  raise  it  gently  from  the  water,  and  cast  and  draw 
as  before.  If  your  bait  is  not  taken  near  the  bank,  extend 
your  cast  up  and  down,  and  across  towards  the  opposite  bank, 
and  towards  the  water-lilies,  brush- wood,  and  under-bushes, 
and  around  and  about  old  stumps,  being  careful  not  to  be 
caught  by  roots  or  brush. 


THE   PIKE   FAMILY. 


141 


As  the  length  of  the  cast  is  increased,  draw  a  proportionate 
length  of  line  from  the  reel,  holding  part  of  it  in  a  coil 
in  your  loft  hand,  and  letting  it  go  as  you  cast;  the 
impetus  acquired  by  the  leaded  bait  will  not  only  take  the 
coil  held  in  your  hand,  but  an  additional  quantity  from  the 
reel,  if  it  tuns  freely.  The  extra  length  of  line  is  recovered 
by  winding  up ;  or  gathering  at  each  raising,  and  loworinc^ 
of  the  point  of  the  rod,  a  foot  or  two  at  a  time,  with  the  left 
hand,  holding  it  in  coils  ready  for  the  next  cast.  It  is  said 
that  English  Pike-fishers  are  able  to  cast  thirty  yards  oi 
more,  when  they  cannot  approach  a  desirable  spot. 

It  is  well  to  draw  the  bait  well  home  between  each  cast,  as 
a  Pike  will  occasionally  follow  it  for  some  distance,  when  he 
is  not  hungry,  as  a  cat  does  a  mouse,  and  seize  it  only  when 
he  finds  that  it  is  about  to  escape,  as  you  draw  it  from  the 
water.    When  your  bait  is  arrested,  or  you  feel  a  tug,  lower  the 
point  of  the  nd,  and  give  the  fish  as  much  line  as  he  wants; 
he  will  take  it  to  his  haunt,  or  .some  place  near  at  hand,  and 
swallow,  or,  as  the  English  anglers  say,  "pouch  it;"  for  the 
Pike  seisses  his  prey  crosswise  in  his  long  jaws,  and  taking  it 
to  his  haunt,  turns  it  and  swallows  it  head  foremost.    As  this 
requires  some  moments  or  perhaps  minutes,  the  angler  is 
kept   in  hopeful  suspense,  and  in  the  meanwhile   his  line 
should  remain  perfectly  slack :  but  as  soon  as  the  fish  has 
pouched  the  bait,  the  hook  pricking  the  sides  of  his  stomach, 
causes  him  uneasiness  and  he  starts  off;  then  give  him  a  yard 
or  so  to  run,  and  winding  up  the  slu^k  strike  sharply,  for  in 
nine  cases  out  of  ten  he  is  hooked  beyond  all  peradventure 
of  escape.    If  he  is  a  fish  of  moderate  size,  reel  him  in  and  lift 
him  ashore,  or  catching  hold  of  the  gimp  trace,  throw  him  out. 
If  he  is  large  and  requires  line,  give  it  grudgingly,  and  keep 
him  away  from  all  places  that  would  endanger  your  tackle, 
or  enable  him  to  get  your  line  foul;  if  you  do  so,  there  is 


142 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Ilv 


little  chance  of  losing  him,  for  he  pulla  as  steady  as  a 
Conestoga  wagon-horse,  and  knows  few  of  the  wiles  of  the 
Trout  or  liass. 

If  after  seizing  your  bait  and  making  his  first  run,  he 
ai'poars  long  in  pouching  it,  you  may  feel  him  gently,  by 
winding  up  the  slack  slowly  and  bearing  on  him  slightly. 
If  ho  is  still  there,  he  will  resist  or  signify  his  dissent  by  a 
shake  or  another  tug,  when  the  line  must  be  again  slacked, 
and  more  time  given  him. 

On  certain  kinds  of  days  a  Pike  will  seize  the  bait,  make  his 
first  run  and  then  drop  or  only  chew  it,  as  if  he  was  overfed 
or  indifferent.  Then  it  is  better  to  use  hooks,  as  described 
for  pond-fishing  on  a  preceding  page,  putting  the  smaller 
through  the  lips  of  the  minnow,  and  the  larger  through  ihe 
back,  .just  behind  the  dorsal  fin,  and  fish  as  there  directed. 

Much  depends  on  the  day  in  Pike-fishing,  some  persons 
say  even  on  the  quarter  the  moon  may  be  in.  On  a  cloudy 
day,  if  not  too  warm,  I  have  found  them  to  take  a  bait  from 
sunrise  to  ten  o'clock,  or  from  four  in  the  afternoon  until  dark, 
though  sometii.ies  they  are  on  the  feed  all  day. 

The  Pike  spawns  in  this  latitude  in  the  latter  part  of 
February,  or  early  in  March,  or  directly  after  the  ice  is  gone, 
and  soon  recovers  condition.  He  may  be  taken  by  snap- 
fishing  at  almost  any  season  after  spawning.  Trolling  with 
the  gorge-hook  is  not  successful  until  later  in  the  season — 
from  August  until  November  is  considered  the  best  time,  or 
even  later  if  the  weather  is  warm.  They  may  be  taken  all 
winter  in  open  weather  by  trolling,  and  numbers  of  them  are 
caught  by  fishing  through  holes  cut  in  the  ice. 

Trolling  from  the  bank  is  the  most  sportsmanlike  way  of 
taking  the  Pike ;  and,  as  will  be  observed,  is  very  different 
from  trolling  or  rather  trailing  the  bait  from  a  boat,  as  it  is 
rowed  along.     Still,   after   one   has   taken   the   magnificent 


THE    PIKE    FAMILY. 


148 


Stripcfl  and  Fresh -water  Bush,  Trout,  Weakflsh.  Barb,  and  Rod- 
fidh  tlirough  the  Hurniner,  at  the  end  of  a  long  lin«,  he  is  ajit 
to  think  trolling  for  Pike  stupid  sport,  notwithstanding  the 
importancio  attaohed  to  it  by  English  anglors.  There  ia  one 
recouuiiondation  to  it,  however ;  it  is  apt  to  fill  the  creel,  in 
parts  of  the  country  where  diminutive  streams  and  ponds 
furnish  no  oth'  r  iluin  small  or  worthless  flsh. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  to  a  sagacious  angler,  that 
the  larger  the  run  of  P"'  •  the  larger  the  bait  to  be  used,  and 
us  a  cousequLMice  t)  arger  the  hook.  When  the  fish  .ire 
small — from  three-c  uartcru  a  pound  and  a  quarter — a 
minnow  the  size  of  oncV-  littk-  Jnger  is  large  enough  ;  if  they 
run  two  pounds  and  up./ard,  a  roaoh  or  chub  of  four  or  five 
inches  is  better.  A  pike  of  foi^'  pounds  will  readily  take  a 
roach  of  six  inches. 

Pike-fishing  is  enjoyed  much  by  the  anglers  of  Virginia, 
between  tidewater  and  Blue  Ridge,  in  the  fall  of  the  year. 
The  usual  method  is  to  bait  one  or  more  holes  for  Carj),  a? 
they  are  called  there  (though  truly  Suckersl  A  half-peck 
or  so  of  coarse  corn  meal  is  made  into  a  stiff'  dough,  and 
thrown  in  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days,  for  a  week  or  so, 
to  attract  the  Carp,  which  aro  fished  for  before  breakfast,  „  id 
late  in  the  afternoon.  This  food  also  draws  the  minnows, 
and  the  small  fry  of  course  attract  the  "Jackfish,"  as  the 
Virginians  call  the  Pike. 

Early  on  some  frosty  morning,  then,  the  angler  of  the  Old 
Dominion  may  be  seen  wending  his  way  to  a  baited  hole, 
preceded  by  a  negro  boy,  with  four  or  half  a  dozen  pine  poles 
on  his  shoulder,  and  a  chunk  of  corn  bread  in  his  hand,  the 
use  of  which  I  will  mention  auou.  When  he  gets  to  the 
baited  hole,  he  proceeds  deliberately  to  bait  his  Carp-hooks 
with  earth-worms,  and  drops  them  quietly  in,  some  distance 
out  from  the  shore.     Then  with  a  small  hook  and  line  he 


144 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


catches  his  minnows,  baits  his  Jack-hooks  (which  are  sus- 
pended  to  the  ends  of  stout  lines  two  feet  or  so  below  large 
corks),  and  ranges  them  in  a  line  close  to  the  bank,  where 
the  Pike  are  most  likely  to  lie  in  ambush  for  the  minnows, 
as  Captain  Walker  used  to  wait  in  the  chaparral  for  the 
"  Greasers,"  down  on  the  Eio  Grande. 

After  he  sets  his  poles  he  then  "  sets  himself,"  on  a  stump, 
or  log,  or  on  a  bench  made  for  that  purpose,  and  for  the  use  of 
all  angJers  who  fish  that  hole,  and  waits  patiently  for  a  bite. 
When  there  is  a  tremulous  motion  of  bis  Carp-corks,  the 
angler  shows  a  disposition  to  rise,  as  if  to  discuss  an  "abstract 
question ;"  but  if  a  school  of  minnows  skip  suddenly  along 
the  surface,  mention  of  the  John  Brown  raid  could  not  arouse 
him  so  thoroughly— Jack  are  about!  his  middle  cork  sails 
away  and  disappears;  he  gives  him  a  little  time,  then  palls 
with  all   his  might,   and   the  fish  is  landed.      He   places 
the  toe  of  his  boot  under  the  abdominal  fins,  and  sends 
Johannis  Esox  some  ten  paces  farther  inland,  and  leaves  him 
flouncing  and  rustling  in  the  dry  leaves.     Then  baiting  his 
hook  again,  he  "sets  his  pole,"  and  takes  his  seat  on  the 
bench  to  wait  for  anot -■  or  bite. 

If  there  are  no  signs  of  Jack,  after  awhile  he  crumbles  up 
a  little  piece  of  the  corn  bread  his  black  adjutor  has  brought 
along,  strews  it  over  the  water  to  attract  the  minnows,  and 
sits  down  again,  perhaj'.^  rising  occasionally  to  land  a  Carp- 
but  look  out!  the  minnows  skip  again!  there,  the  cork 
nearest  the  alders !  jerk— he  has  missed  him— he  pulled  too 
soon.  Parliaps  he  "  cusses"  a  little,  but  baits  his  hook  again, 
resets  l-is  pole,  and  once  more  takes  his  seat  on  the  bench. 
If  the  Jack  bite  well,  he  resigns  the  capture  of  the  less  noble 
game— the  Suckers— to  his  henchman,  who  has  been  standing 
all  the  time  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  rubbing  one  foot 
over  the  other  to  keep  them  warm,  and  shivering  as  a  negro 


THE   PIKE   FAMILY. 


145 


boy  always  will  on  a  frosty  morning,  whether  he  is  cold  or 
not.  As  the  day  advances,  he  wiles  the  minnows  with  the 
crumbs  of  corn  bread,  and  the  minnows  attract  the  Jack- 
fish.  At  last,  after  more  or  less  sport,  he  strings  his  fish  on 
a  dogwood  switch,  hands  them  to  C»sar,  goes  home,  takes  a 
honey  dram,  or,  if  he  has  taken  the  temperance  pledge  lately, 
compromises  on  a  mug  of  persimmon  beer,  which  he  calls 
"36.30,"  and  sits  down  to  breakfast;  and  such  a  breakfast  as 
is  seldom  found  outside  of  the  Old  Dominion. 

On  such  excursions,  when  I  have  been  with  "the  Major," 
minnows  would  be  scarce,  and  the  Ju.kfish  would  keep  their 
hiding-places;  then  with  my  trolling-rod  and  gorge-hook,  I 
have  forced  from  him  acknowledgment  of  the  superiority  of 
science  over  native  aptness.  But  he  always  viewed  trolling 
in  the  light  of  some  new-fangled  "Northern  heresy;"  and 
when  I  have  attempted  to  drill  him  in  my  tactics,  he  would 
make  a  few  casts  and  return  to  his  big  cork  lines;  and  still 
adheres  to  their  use  with  as  much  pertinacity  as  he  does  to 
the  "political  teachings  of  Thomas  Jefferson,"  or  the  doctrine 
of  State  Eights. 

I  would  not  imply  from  the  foregoing,  that  the  anglers  of 
the  Old  Dominion  are  solitary  or  unsocial  in  their  sports;  on 
the  contrary  they  are  gregarious,  and  consequently  convivial. 
A  fishing-party,  if  stationary,  sometimes  lasts  all  day,  and  is 
apt  to  draw  an  occasional  passer-by;  when  a  game  of  "seven- 
up"  or  a  tune  on  a  fiddle  is  interluded.  "  The  Major"  says,  a 
cockfight  sometimes  varies  the  amusements  of  the  day;  and 
that  he  has  even  known  a  quarter  race  to  come  off  in  an 
adjoining  lane,  by  way  of  finale  to  the  day's  sport. 

[Since  penning  the  foregoing  sketch  of  an  old  friend,  the 
besom  of  war  has  swept  over  the  broad  fields  along  the  upper 
Rappahannock,  where  he  lived ;  crops  have  been  destroyed 


148 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOR. 


farm  stock  driven  off,  servants  scattered,  and  many  a  hos- 
pitable home,  that  was  open  to  all  comers,  has  been  desolated, 
I  prefer  not  altering  what  I  have  written,  for  I  love  to  think 
of  that  pan  of  the  country  and  its  people  as  they  were,  and 
indulge  the  hope  that  when  our  Union  is  restored,  I  shall 
again  behold  "  the  Major"  as  I  last  saw  him  after  returning 
from  Jack-fishing — warming  himself  before  his  big  log-fire.] 


THB    PIKE   FAMILY. 


147 


GREAT  BLUE  PIKE. 

This  fish  has  a  broad  short  snout,  which  is  very  different 
from  the  ducklike  bill  of  the  Pond  Pike;  its  head  resembling 
what  one  might  imagine  the  produce  of  the  bulldog  and 
greyhound  would  be.  It  has  a  formidable  array  of  broad 
lancet-looking  teeth.  I  have  the  head  of  a  specimen,  sent 
from  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  in  a  jar  of  alcohol,  which 
measures  twenty-five  inches  in  circumference;  after  large 
slices  of  it  being  cut  off,  to  get  it  into  the  jar. 

Mr.  Wilson,  who  keeps  the  gun  and  fishing-tackle  store  in 
Chestnut  Street  below  Fifth,  Pbiladelphi.  h  the  dried  head 
of  a  Pike  of  the  same  species  in  his  window,  with  its  two 
rows  of  teeth  all  complete ;  it  is  worth  examining. 

This  fish  is  found  in  the  lakelets  and  in  the  streams  that  are 
tributary  to  the  Ohio,  in  the  south-western  part  of  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  North-western  Virginia.  A  friend  tells  me 
it  takes  a  live  bait  nine  or  ten  inches  long,  and  pulls  like 
a  Shetland  pony.  It  has  been  taken  weighing  as  much 
as  eighty  pounds  in  Connaught  Lake  in  Bradford  County, 
Pennsylvania. 


THE  LITTLE  POND  PIKE  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 

In  olden  times  on  Long  Island  there  was  a  small  Pike 
which  bothered  the  fly-fisher  a  great  deal,  rising  at  the  fly 
and  insisting  on  being  caught.  Frank  Forester  describes 
it  at  length  in  his  book  as  Esox  fasciatus. 


148 


AMBRICAN    ANGLKR'S    BOOK. 


THE  STREAKED  PIKE  OF  THE  OHIO. 


Esox  vittatua :  Rafinesque. 

Of  the  Pikes  found  in  the  Ohio,  Rafinesque  says : — "  There 
are  several  species  of  Pikes  in  the  Ohio,  Mississippi,  Wabash, 
Kentucky,  &c,  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  observe  them 
thoroughly.  I  have,  however,  procured  correct  accounts,  and 
figures  of  two  species ;  but  there  are  more.  They  appear  to 
belong  to  a  peculiar  subgenus  distinguished  by  a  long  dorsal 
fin,  a  forked  tail,  and  the  abdominal  fins  anterior,  being 
removed  from  the  vent.  It  may  be  called  Picarellus.  The 
French  settlers  of  the  Wabash  and  Missouri  call  them  Piconeau, 
and  the  American  sett'ers  Pikes  or  Pickerels.  They  are 
permanent  but  rare  fishes,  retiring  however  in  deep  waters  in 
winter.  They  prefer  the  large  streams,  are  very  voracious, 
and  grow  to  a  large  size.  They  prey  on  all  the  other  fishes 
except  the  Garfishes,  &c.  They  are  easily  taken  with  the 
hook,  and  afford  a  very  good  food,  having  a  delicate  flesh. 

"  Streaked  Pike.    Esox  vittatus.    Brochet  raye. 

"White,  with  two  blackish  longitudinal  streaks  on  each  side, 
back  brownish ;  jaws  nearly  qc-xoX,  very  obtuse,  eyes  large 
and  behind  the  mouth ;  dorsal  fins  longitudinal  between  the 
abdominal  and  anal  fins ;  tail  forked. 

"  This  fish  is  rare  in  the  Ohio,  (although  it  has  been  seen  at 
Pittsburgh),  but  more  common  in  the  Wabash  and  Upper 


THB   PIKB   FAMILY. 


149 


Mississippi.  It  is  called  Picor^au  or  Picaneau  by  the  Cana- 
dians and  Missourians.  It  reaches  the  length  of  from  three 
to  five  feet.  The  pectoral  and  abdominal  fins  are  trapezoidal, 
the  anal  and  dorsal  longitudinal,  with  many  rays  and  nearly 
equal.  It  is  sometimes  called  Jack  or  Jackfish.  Lateral  line 
straight." 

I  saw  an  account,  and  an  engraving  of  a  fish  of  this  species 
m  some  scientific  journal  a  few  years  since,  at  the  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia,  and  fully  intended  to  have 
referred  to  it  in  this  work ;  but  on  looking  for  it  recently- 
having  forgotten  the  title  of  the  periodica^--  r^viz':.  to  my 
regret  I  was  unable  to  find  it.  even  with  the  assistance  of  the 
librarian. 

I  have  been  told  by  Kentucky  anglers  that  this  Pike  takes 
a  Chub  or  a  Sucker  a  foot  long,  and  prefers  a  bait  of  that  size 
to  a  smaller  one;  and  that  in  setting  night-lines  for  it  the 
usual  way  is  to  go  in  a  boat  to  pools  which  it  frequents, 'and 
tie  the  line  to  the  limb  of  a  tree,  extending  over  the  water 
When  the  fish  takes  the  bait,  the  branch  giving,  allows  him 
to  run  a  little  with  his  prey,  and  when  he  is  securely  hooked, 
It  also  acts  as  a  rod,  yielding,  though  still  holding  him. 

Miraculous  stories  are  told  of  the  size  of  a  Pike  found  in 
the  Kanawha  and  other  tributaries  of  the  Ohio,  below  Wheel- 
ing, Virginia,  which  must  be  of  the  species  referred  to  above 
If  these  accounts  are  to  be  credited,  it  is  the  largest  Pike 
ever  taken  with  hook  and  line-excepting,  always,  Pliny's     . 
and  old  Gesner's. 

One  of  the  stories  alluded  to,  I  heard  many  years  ago,  when 
detained  at  Wheeling,  Virginia,  waiting  for  the  Cincinnati 
packet.  It  wa;  from  the  hostler  of  the  hotel  opposite  the 
steamboat  landing.  He  told  me  that  the  proprietor,  who  was 
then  on  a  fishing  excursion  to  the  Kanawha,  on  a  former  trip 


'.^■^' 


150 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


had  taken  a  Pike  which  reached  clear  across  the  diniop-t<>,ble 
after  its  head  and  tail  were  cut  off;  and  that  it  was  rieoe-.savy  to 
have  a  tin  boiler  made  expressly  to  cook  it.  He  did  not  say 
how  much  wood  was  consumed  in  boiling  if, ;  probably  some- 
thing less  than  a  cord.  From  his  '•  dare-davil"  au..  and  the 
leer  in  his  eye  I  had  a  feint  imprf;s3!t>u  that  he  was  quizzing 
me.  But  he  affirmed  positively  a3  to  the  length  of  tlie  fish, 
as  he  sat  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  with  hu  thurubs  under  his  bus- 
penders,  and  a  very  long  native  segar  in  hia  mouth. 


■tiihle 
aiy  to 
ot,  say 
aome- 
id  the 
izzing 
e  fish, 
is  sus> 


CHAPTER   VI. 
THE   CARP   FAM1.  Y. 


**  lilT  me  live  barmlossly,  aud  near  the  brink 
Of  Trent  or  Avon,  liuve  a  liwoUiuis-piutf ; 
Where  1  uuy  see  my  quiU  ur  curk  duwn  einli 
With  eager  bite  of  Torch,  or  Bleak,  or  Dace, 
And  on  the  world  and  my  Creator  think; 
Whilst  Home  men  strive  iil-gottcn  goods  to  embraca, 
And  others  spend  their  time  in  base  excess 
Of  wine,  or  worse,  in  war  and  wantonness. 

■"Let  them  that  list,  these  pastimes  still  pursue, 
And  on  such  pleasing  fancies  feed  their  flU, 
So  I  the  fields  and  meadows  green  way  view. 
Ana  dully  by  fresh  rivers  walk  at  will, 
Amoi.g  the  daisies  and  the  violets  blue, 
Bed  hyacinth,  aud  yellow  daflbdll. 

Purple  narcissus  like  the  morning  raya. 
Pale  gander-gross,  and  azure  uulverkeys." 

Jo.  Davoss,  Ea(). 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THK   CARP   FAMILY— CYPRINIDii. 

Remarks  on  the  Cyprinid.i:. 

The  Sucker.     Catoatomua  communis. 

Buffalo  Fish.     Catoatomus  6«6ai«M.-Buffalo  Fish  as  an  article  of  diet. 

The  Chub  or  Fai.lkish.  heucoaomus  rhotheua.-'&nors  of  American 
writers  in  regard  to  the  size  of  the  Chub—Chub  an  annoyance  to 
fly-fishers—Chub-fishing  on  the  Brandywine.-Umbrella  invented  by 
a  Chub  Fisherman. 

Roach,  and  Roach-fishing. 

This  family  furnishes  but  few  species  that  may  be  called 
game  fish.  The  more  ambitious  angler  who  has  access  to 
Trout-streams  or  waters  where  Bass  and  Pike  are  found, 
seldom  fishes  for  them  in  this  country.  As  food  they  are  not 
esteemed,  and  in  warm  weather  are  scarcely  edible. 

There  are  pleasing  associations,  however,  connected  with 
some  of  the  fish  of  this  family.  To  many  an  angler  they 
have  furnislied  the  means  of  a  rudimentary  knowledge  of  the 
gentle  art,  while  the  pursuit  of  them  along  the  streams  that 
flow  through  green  meadows,  has  likely  fostered  a  love  of 
quiet  pastoral  scenery;  and  if,  in  after  years,  he  reads  the 
lines  attributed  by  Walton  to  "Jo  Davors,  Esq.,"  quoted  on 
the  preceding  leaf,  he  will  more  thoroughly  appreciate  the 
character  of  our  simple-hearted,  though  strong-headed  Father 

(153) 


IM 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Izaak,  as  in  nis  f-Micy  he  hears  him  discourse  with  his  pupil, 
under  a  honeysuckle  iietlge  during  a  ahower. 

The  ch'iiucteristics  of  this  family  are :  the  mouth  slightly 
cleft;  WO!  k  jaws,  most  frequently  without  teeth;  margin 
of  the  jaws  formed  by  the  intermaxillaries.  Pharyngeals 
strongly  toothed ;  lips  fleshy.  Bra'ichial  rays  few.  Body 
scaly.  One  dorsal  fin.  Bi^l'.y  not  compresst  I;  never  serrated. 
Intestinal  canal  short.  The  least  carnivorous  or  predatory 
of  all  fishes.  There  are  nearly  thirty  genera,  and  over  two 
hundred  species. 


THE  SUCKER. 

Catostomus  communis :  De  Kat. 

There  are  several  species  of  the  genus  Catostomus  known 
by  this  common  name;  they  appear  to  be  ubiquitous  in  the 
streams  of  the  Northern,  Middle,  and  Western  States,  are  less 
numerous  in  the  Southern,  and  are  seL  i  found  in  those 
states  that  border  on  +he  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  Sucker  cannot  be  call  1  a  sporting  fish,  yet  the  diffi- 
culty of  takivi;';  it  with  hook  1  line,  n  id  the  nicety  required 
in  fishing  for  it,  makes  the  taking  of  it  a  matter  ot  interest  t<^ 
those  who  like  to  accomplish  something  difficult  in  angling. 
As  an  article  of  food  it  is  only  esteemed  when  other  fish  ;  re 
scarce. 

When  fly-fishing  in  the  moutii  of  June,  I  have  ffpquently 
fvjund  them  to  collect  in  L  ^  ibers  in  some  title  current 
to  spawn ;  then  Trout  ai  ^  -pt  lie  at  the  h  'V  end  of  the 
school  to  catch  the  ova  as  it  drills  down  strea.  .  At  such 
places  the  angler  is  sure  of  a  good  catch  of  Trout,  which  will 
rise  readily  at  the  fly  although  they  may  be  gorged  with  the 
spawn  of  the  Suckers. 


k 


THU  CARP  FAMILT. 


166 


In  Eastern  Virginia  the  Suoker  is  oallod  "Carp,"  and  they 
are  fished  for  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Carp  in  England 
this  mode  of  angling  having  no  doubt  been  handed  down  1  J 
.he  early  settlers.  A  hole  in  the  creek,  river,  or  mill-pond 
IS  baited  every  evening  for  a  week  or  ten  days  with  eoarse 
orn.meal  dough,  and  is  then  fished  early  in  the  morning  and 

z  ritr"  ■ '""  ^^" "' '''  '-'■  ^^^''  °-»- 

In  still  water  a  float  is  used,  and  a  small  hook  with  an 
earth  worm  put  on  sn  ,s  to  let  it  crawl  on  the  bottom;  it  is 
sucked  tn  by  the  fish ;  .he  motion  of  the  cork  is  slight,  the 

undeT  *  "  "  ""^  '"''  "'  "  "  "  ^^  Sently 


I 


BUFFALO  FISH. 

m.utiming  the  specific  characteristics  of  this  fish,  Eafl- 
ne.,,ue    ,vs:  "Diameter  one-fifth  of  the  total  length;  oliva. 
cous  brown  pale  beneath,  fins  blackish,  pectoral  flna  brown 
and  short;  head  sloping,  snout  rounded,  cheeks  whitish- 
lateral  straight,  do,     <  flu  narrow,  with  twent,  Jght  equal 
rays,  anal  trapezoidal  >    -h  twelve  rays."    "Itiscl,      .  verv 
Inhere  Bufialo  Fish,  and  ■  Pieoncau'  by  the  French  settlers  o^ 
Loni„ana     It  is  eom:,onlv  taken  with  a  dart  at  night  when 
asleep,  or  .n  the  seine;  it,  ...    uot  bite   -eadily  at  tl  hod 
It  .ed.  on  small.      she,  ..nd  .,hell,.and  often  goes  in  shoals.- 

--i^ke^kedong.tei_    ^f  ou^     hful  days.    Its  sha^ 
•  A,  .m,r.    None  .f  „.,  a.,„to„i  f^^  „„  m^^^^^i~^^^^;^~ 


166 


AMBRICAN    ANOLKR'S    BOOK. 


resembles  what  a  huge  Porch  might  be,  if  infliit(!<l ;  for  its 
body  is  not  only  veiy  <leop,  but  thick  and  full,  and  is  puffed 
up  to  the  very  tail;  a  fish  of  thirty  inches,  weighing  almost  as 
many  })ounds.  u  is  seldom  taken  with  a  hook  and  line,  and 
is  of  little  interest  to  the  angler.  I  notice  it  here,  only 
because  it  is  never  seen  by  the  angler  of  the  Atlantic  States, 
though  it  is  common  to  all  the  waters  that  connect  with  the 
Ohi'   and  Missis8ipj)i.     Its  flesh  is  gross  and  unpalatable. 

At  St.  Louis  I  have  seen  a  dray-load  of  these  unwieldy,  mis- 
shapen fish,  brought  on  board  of  a  steamboat  bound  for  New 
Orleans.  Although  kept  in  ice,  they  would  get  rather  stale 
by  the  time  the  boat  reached  the  cotton  and  sugar  regions. 
Billy  Clark,  an  assi.^-tunt  clerk  on  one  of  these  boats,  who  was 
somewhat  of  ;'  wag,  would  write  them  down  at  the  head  of 
the  bill  of  fare  "Mississippi  Salmon  k  la  tartare,"  but  quietly 
remarked,  he  would  as  soon  eat  a  piece  of  the  Ohio  Fat  Boy. 
Some  of  the  natives  though,  who  came  aboani,  apparently 
from  inland,  on  our  passage  dowu,  seemed  to  relish  them 
hugely.  I  remember  one  of  these,  a  short,  pot-bellied,  bald- 
headed  little  man,  with  low-quartered  shoes,  short  trousers, 
and  a  brown  linen  jacket,  an  outline  of  whose  figure  closely 
resembled  the  fish  in  question.  There  used  to  be  some  fast 
eating  on  western  steamboats  in  those  days.  I  have  seen  all 
the  courses  from  "soup,"  down  to  "almonds  and  raisins," 
done  in  twenty  minutes:  but  when  this  piscivorous  little 
gentleman  sat  down  to  boiled  BuflFalo,  it  was  astonishing  to  a 
man  accustomed  to  slow  eating.  The  mention  of  this  fish 
brings  up  other  ludicrous  reminiscences ;  but  . 


"  Farewell !  a  word  that  must  be,  and  hath  been — 
A  sound  which  makes  us  linger— yet,  farewell !" 

The  Sunny  South — farewell,  great  Bubalus,  and  all  the 
minor  Catostomi. 


THE   CARP   FAMILY. 


167 


THE  CHUB,  OR  FALLFISH. 

lieuco.iomut  rhotheua. 

TWe  arc  several  species  of  the  genus  Leucosomns  found  in 
the  Eastern  and  Middle  States.  I  therefore  omit  u  deserip- 
tion  ^of  any  or.e  species  as  a  representative  of  the  fish  called 

The  Chub  is  a  persecuted  individual  in  a  Trout-stream  • 
one  whoso  name  is  cast  out  as  a  reproach  amongst  fly-fishers 
whose  head  is  knocked  off;  or  he  is  thrown  ashore  on  a  sun- 
8hmy  day  to  linger  and  die  on  the  pebbly  beach,  like  an 
Ishmaehte  in  the  sands  of  the  great  Sahara.  Every  man', 
hand  is  against  him. 

Dr  Bethune,  in  a  note  to  his  edition  of  Walton,  says: 
The  Chub  in  this  country  is  the  scorn  and  vexation  of  the 
angler^  and,  except  when  large,  is  by  no  means  the  shy  fish 
that  Walton  and  other  English  writers  describe  him  to  be  • 
on  the  contrary,  he  is  a  bold  biter,  more  ready  than  welcome 
at  any  bait  offered  him."  Mr.  Brown,  in  the  "American 
Anglers  Guide,"  says,  "Their  length  is  not  usually  over  ten 
inches;"  and  Frank  Forester  writes,  "The  American  Chub 
never  exceeds  ten  inches." 

The  writers  last  quoted  could  not  have  fished  many  of  the 
tributaries  of  the  Delaware  and  Susquehanna,  or  they  never 
would  have  recorded  so  gross  an  error.     The  Upper  Dela 
ware,  the  Beaverkill,  Schuylkill,  West  Canada  Creek    and 
many  other  streams,  abou  d  in  large  Chub,  and  any  urchin 
«rho  wets  his  clumsy  line,  with  a  white  grub  at  the  end  of  it 
knows  better.     Immediately  below  Frank  Forester's  remark 
just  quoted,  I  find  (in  a  copy  of  his  book  in  my  possession) 
the  following  note  by  the  president  of  our  little  club-  "A 


158 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


MvU 


mistake — I  have  taken  them  twenty-two  inches  long  and 
weighing  three  pounds ;  common  in  the  Schuylkill,  eighteen 
inches." 

Dr.  Bethune  is  unnecessarily  disparaging  in  his  remarks 
on  this  fish.  In  many  sections  of  the  country  it  furnishes 
excellent  sport,  especially  in  those  streams  where  Trout  have 
been  fished  out,  or  have  disappeared  from  other  causes;  it 
takes  a  grasshopper  at  midwater  or  on  the  surface,  and  on  a 
warm  day  rises  freely  at  the  fly,  and  shows  much  pluck  when 
hooked.  But  wlien  fly-fishing  for  Trout,  in  some  streams 
they  are  so  numerous  as  to  be  deservedly  considered  a  nui- 
sance ;  for  it  is  a  severe  trial  of  the  angler's  patience,  when 
he  hooks  a  good  Trout  in  a  rift,  and  as  he  gets  him  into  still 
water  and  has  almost  drowned  him,  to  have  a  big  Chub  with 
his  fresh  vigor  seize  the  other  fly,  and  be  held  tight  by  his 
leathery  mouth,  while  the  chances  for  the  escape  of  the  Trout 
are  augmented.  Tlien  again  they  will  be  jumping  at  your 
flies,  frequently  getting  the  start  of  a  shy  Trout,  or,  after 
being  hooked,  swim  deep  and  strong,  and  encourage  tho  vain 
hope  that  it  is  a  stout,  steady-pulling  Trout ;  but  one  glance 
at  the  back  fin  or  his  forked  tail  as  he  gives  in,  dispels  the 
illusion.  They  prefer  a  fly  with  a  big  red  body,  and  in  such 
streams  those  who  fish  for  Trout  should  avoid  a  dubbing  of 
that  color. 

Some  years  back  I  was  one  of  a  party  on  the  Beaverkill, 
when  an  incipient  fly-fif  her  hooked  a  large  Chub,  and  played 
it  some  minutes,  supposing  it  to  be  a  Trout ;  on  landing  it, 
he  looked  at  a  veteran  native  angler,  as  if  to  solicit  his 
approval,  but  'Uncle  Peter,"  turning  over  the  Chub  with 
the  toe  of  his  boot,  remarked  in  his  quiet  way,  "  why,  he's  as 
big  as  a  lamb."  There  was  a  laugli,  and  of  course  the  angler 
was  chagrined,  when  he  was  told  the  Chub  was  never 
basketed  there 


THE    CARP    FAMILY. 


169 


A  friend  v^ho  is  a  veteran  Chub-fisher,  and  who  stands  up 
for  his  favorite,  writes  thus  in  his  defence;  I  insert  his 
remarks,  word  for  word : — 

"I  suggest  that  the  mistake  of  Frank  Forester  arises  from 
the  fact  of  a  fish  with  a  clumsy,  horny  head,  which  is  washy 
and  worthless,  and  rarely  attains  a  greater  length  than  ten 
inches,  is  frequently  found  in  Trout-streams,  and  is  called 
'  Chub.'     But  the  fish  in  question,  which  is  known  in  Chester 
county  and  in  many  other  parts  of  the  state  as  'the  Fallfish,' 
probably  from  his  being   .:n   the   best  condition  and  moJt 
readily  taken  in  the  autumn  months,  is  a  shapely, 'cleanly 
fish,  with  a  white,  silvery  belly,  and  when  well  grown  is  shy 
and  requires  careful  and  quiet  fishing.     The  sides  and  heads 
of  those  above  twelve  inches  are  often  colored  with  a  pink 
tinge." 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Chub  is  much 
esteemed  in  many  streams  for  the  sport  he  affords  in  bottom- 
fishing.  The  best  season  of  the  year  is  September;  a  grass- 
hopper or  grub-worm,  or  a  small  cube  of  tough  cheese,  is  a 
g0(xl  bait;  the  bottom-tackle  should  be  neat,  as  he  'bites 
delicately;  a  long,  light  cane  rod,  a  small  float,  and  a  No.  1 
Kirby  hook,  are  appropriate  tackle. 

Some  anglers  now  residents  of  the  "Quakor  City,"  who 
came  from  an  adjoining  county,  as  our  friend  just  quoted,  are 
expert  Chub-fishers.  T  am  acquainted  with  a  retired  mer- 
chant, a  neat,  dapper  old  gentleman,  who  fishes  the  Brandy- 
wine,  and  has  all  kinds  of  c,)n'  i  ranees  pertaining  to  catching 
them.  To  be  appreciated,  he  should  be  seen  with  his  tin 
bait-box  strapped  before  him,  his  portable  stool,  and  his  im- 
provement fbr  holding  his  umbrella  without  the  use  of  his 
hands;  the  latter  invention  is  a  long  pocket,  two  inches 
wide  and  twelve  inches  deep,  down  the  back  of  his  coat,  into 
wliich  he  slips  the  staff  of  his  umbrella,  and  waits  patiently 


160 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


for  a  bite,  regardless  of  April  showers  or  July's  scorcliin,<,' 
sun.  When  the  mild  Indian  summer  is  over,  he  greases  his 
long  reed  pole  with  linseed  oil,  and  lays  it  carefully  away ; 
viewing  it  now  and  then  with  the  same  satisfaction  that 
Gloster  did  his  "  bruised  arms  hung  up  for  monuments."  I 
have  suggested  to  him  the  use  of  the  artificial  fly,  but  he 
believes  not  in  things  ethereal,  or  things  ephemeral,  but  has 
more  "confidence  in  the  flesh,"  viz.  red  worms  and  white 
grubs.  Long  may  he  live  to  fish  for  Chub,  chewing  "the 
cud  of  sweet  and  bitter  fancy,"  as  well  as  his  Bologna 
sausage  at  noon,  while  he  contemplates  the  beauties  of  nature 
by  the  peaceful  Bmucivwme. 


m 


"Caveat  ENTEREn." 


TI'B    CARP   FAMILY. 


161 


THE  ROACH. 

Of  course  no  angler  will  fish  for  Eoach  when  better  sport 
3an  be  had ;  but  as  they  are  only  in  season  when  all  other 
fish  refuse  a  bait,  and  thus  act  as  a  palliative  to  one  who 
suffers  from  "  Anglo-Mania,"  they  deserve  some  notice 

On  any  warm  day  from  October  to  April,  the  angler  may 
unite  recreation  with  exercise,  by  taking  his  walking  cane 
rod  :n  his  hand,  and  with  a  lump  of  tough  dough  or^a  few 
small  wood-worms,  have  an  hour's  sport  with  these  pretty 
little  fish.     If  he  has  some  juvenile  friend  with  him    thi 
pleasure  is  enhanced.     I  have  taken  score,  of  them  durin. 
the  winter,  from  seven  to  nine  inches  in  length,  at  Gray'^ 
Ferry,  also  in  Cooper's  Creek,  and  at  Red  Bank  below  the 
city,     rhey  are  generally  found  on  the  lee  side  of  a  pier 
stretching  into  a  fresh- water  creek  or  river;  and  sometimes 
in  the  dock  itself. 

When  fishing  for  Roach  I  have  frequently  laid  them  on 
the  snow  or  ice,  when  they  would  become  frozen;  but  on 
taking  them  home  carefully,  and  putting  them  in  hydrant 
water,  would  have  the  whole  catch  swimming  about  There 
IS  some  mcety  required  ir.  Uking  Roach  artistically,  whi.h 
IS  not  attained  by  bungler,,,  and  this  fict  adds  to  the  pleasure 
ot  this  kind  of  winter  angling. 

The  rod  should  be  slight  lui  from  eight  to  ten  feet  Ion.- 
the  lu,e  ot  fine  sil!:-  botton,  „f  fl„e  gut;  hooks  Eo.  °2 
Kirby,  one  of  which  should  l,o  seized  to  the  extreme  end' 
a.ul  three  others  to  short  pieces  of  gut,  diverging  at  intervals 


fVi 


162 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  eight  inches ;  float,  a  neat  quill ;  the  sinker  should  be  just 
heavy  enough  to  sink  half  or  two-thirds  of  the  float;  the 
bottom  hook  should  tovich  or  be  near  the  bottom. 

The  bait,  if  paste,  should  be  rolled  in  small  pellets,  not 
larger  than  a  No.  1  shot,  between  the  finger  and  thumb ;  it 
should  merely  cover  the  point  and  barb  of  the  hook.  When 
they  bite  freely,  a  small  mite  of  the  tough  skin  of  a  chicken's 
leg  will  obviate  the  necessity  of  baiting  often.  Worms  ob- 
tained by  peeling  the  bark  from  rotten  logs,  are  generally 
used  in  winter.  On  a  cold  day  a  bite  is  almost  imperceptible 
to  a  novice,  but  a  little  observation  will  soon  teach  him  when 
to  strike,  which  should  be  done  by  a  quick  but  slight  motion. 
Roach  will  not  rise  at  a  fly  in  winter,  but  I  have  caught  them 
when  casting  for  Trout  on  a  pond  in  Marcli.  They  are  soft, 
and  have  a  muddy  taste. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
THE   HERRING   FAMILY. 


i'l  I- 

(  I.         3 


guakfr  Lady  (raising  the  window).  I  say,  man— thee  with  the  wheel- 
barrow—what does  thoo  ask  for  shad  f 

Oulured  Fislivemler.  Ilay  dur!  (turning  quickly  round  and  touching 
the  rim  of  Ills  buUcrowiu'd  luit)  From  three  tips,  uiarni,  to  u  ijuiuter 
and  a  flp,  'cordin'  to  do  size  of  'oni.— None  of  your  grass-fed  shad,  iiiHrm, 

hut  ru'iil  fat  corn-fed  fellows. Slm-and,  0  shad !  let  go  my  knife  and 

fork,  frail  shad! Whih  !  Iktu  dey  go! 

Old  Timet  in  PItiladelphia. 


Ji 


ill  -r 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   HERRING  FAMILY— OLUPEIDJ!. 

Rkmarks  ON  XHK  H.RR,.o  F.Mz.v,  from  the  "  Iconographic  Encyclo- 
psedm.  -Their  abundance  in  the  waters  of  the  United  States.-Great 
number,  of  them  taken  in  the  Potomac.-Herring-fishing  with  the 
artincial  fly. 

The  Shad.  Alosa  pra^stabilia.-Its  delicacy  and  value  as  food -Mi- 
gratory habits.-Shad  taken  with  the  minnow.-Shad-roe  as  bait." 

Although  this  family  of  fishes  is  of  little  interest  to  the 
angler,  as  far  as  sporting  qualities  are  concerned,  its  import- 
ance in  I  a  ^noDomio  and  commercial  point  of  view  is  so  great 
that  I  am  i..]  iced  to  copy  at  length  an  interesting  article' 
from  the  "  Iconographic  Encyclopaedia  of  Science,  Literature 
and  Art,"  a  work  whicu  has  been  translated  from  the  German' 
and  edited  by  our  countran.  n.  Professor  Spencer  F.  Baird' 
of  the  Smithsonian  Institute  ...I  published  by  the  Messrs' 
Appleton,  of  New  York. 

"  Clupeid^.  The  fishes  of  this  family  exhibit  considerable 
analogies  to  the  Salmonouls,  differing,  however,  in  the  absence 
of  an  adipose  dorsal.  Both  maxillaries  and  intermaxillaries 
are  employed  in  forming  the  margin  of  the  upper  jaw,  instead 
of  the  usual  introduction  of  the  latter  alone.  The  body  is 
well  scaled,  the  scales  sometimes  very  large.  Bones  of  the 
mouth  variously  provided  with  teeth,  these  occurrin..  some- 
times on  the  pectinated  tongue.  ° 

^' The  fishes  of  this  family  are  among  the  most  useful  and 
indispensable  to  man.    It  includes  the  Anchovy,  the  Sardine, 

(165^ 


^i 


i4) 


'    ir  I 


bJ.'S'  ' 


166 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


the  Sprat,  the  various  Herrings,  and  the  Shad.  The  Anchovy 
Engraulis  encrastcholus,  is  a  small  fish,  a  few  inches  in  length, 
distributed  throughout  Europe,  and  especially  abundant  in 
various  parts  of  the  Mediterranean.  It  is  distinguished,  as  a 
genuS;  by  the  projecting  and  pointed  upper  jaw,  and  the  long 
anal.  The  top  of  the  head  and  back  is  blue ;  irides,  sides,  and 
belly,  silvery  white.  This  fish  was  well  known  to  the  ancient 
Greeks  and  Eomans,  who  prepared  from  it  a  sauce  called 
garum,  held  in  great  favor.  They  are  taken  in  countless 
numbers  on  the  coast  of  Sardinia,  400,000  having  been 
caught  at  a  single  haul.  The  fishing  is  highly  successful  by 
night,  when  the  Anchovies  are  readily  attracted  by  the  glare 
of  fire-pans.  In  preparing  them  for  purposes  of  commerce, 
the  head  and  viscera  must  be  removed;  the  former  being 
bitter,  and  for  this  reason  called  Encrasicholus  by  Aristotle. 
The  Anchovies,  after  being  washed  clean,  are  placed  with  the 
belly  upwards  in  vessels,  u  layer  of  fish  alternating  with  one 
of  salt,  until  the  whole  is  full.  Pressure  must  be  exerted  to 
drive  out  the  oil  as  much  as  possible.  A  hole  is  left  in  the 
top  of  the  vessel,  which  is  then  exposed  to  the  sun.  After 
fermentation  has  commenced,  the  hole  is  stopped  up,  and  the 
vessel  removed  to  a  storehouse.  The  operation  is  not  com- 
pleted until  the  following  year.  The  Anchovy  is  taken  from 
December  to  May. 

"The  Glupeidee,  with  non  ])rojectinir  n])per  jaws,  are  divided 
mto  various  genera,  as  Ohipea,  Sardinella,  Harengula,  Pellona, 
Meletta,  Alosa,  and  others.  A  distinction  was  formerly  made 
between  a  genus  Alosa,  characterized  by  an  emargination  of 
the  upper  jaw,  and  Clupea,  with  the  border  of  the  jaw  con- 
tinuous or  entire.  This  division,  however,  has  been  found 
to  be  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  present  system. 

"Alosa  vulgaris,  a  European  species,  is  represented  in 
America  by  one  of  much  finer  flavor,  the  A.  sapidissima,  or 


THE    HERRING    FAMILY. 


167 


jommerce, 


common    Amori.an   Shad.     This   well-known   species   com- 
rnences  its  entr...  c  into  our  rivers,  at  periods  varying  from 
.January  to  May,  according  to  the  latitude.     It  penetrates  all 
the  Atlantic  streams,  and   when  unobstructed  by  dams  or 
other  impediments,  travels  to  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  mouth  for  the  purpose  of  depositing  its  spawn.     They 
nre  taken  m  great  numbers,  especially  in  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  Bays,  by  various  means,  the  most  conspieuous  of 
which  are  large  seines  and  gill-nets.     The  price  varies  from 
five  to  fifty  dollars  per  hundred,  according  to  the  abundance 
or  size.     As  already  remarked,  various  Herrings  occur  in 
inmiense  numbers.     Conspieuous  among  European  species 
HI  this  respect,  is  the  Sprat,  Rarenr,ula  spratlm ;  but  vastly 
more  so  the  common  Herring,  Clupea  harengns.     The  true 
abode  of  the  immense  hordes  of  Herring  is  not,  even  at  this 
•Iny,  definitely  ascertained,  the  fish  being  scarcely  known 
except  in  its  wanderings.      Some  naturalists  suppose  it  to 
come  from   the   high   north  to  deposit  its  spawn  upon  the 
shores  of  the  North  Sea;  others,  again,  consider  the  bottom 
0   the  ^vth  Sea  to  l>o  its  home,  since  it  is  first  visible  at  the 
Shetland  Islands  in  Aj.ril.     Here  myriads  of  Herrings  com- 
bine into  armies  many  miles  in  length,  and  then  pass  on  to 
the  coasts  of  Norway,  England  Germany,  and  the  Nether- 
ands._    In-om  the    main   army,   branches  go  oft"  iu   various 
<ln-ection.s,  supplying  almost  the  whole  coast  of  Europe  and 
l^ossibly  extend  their  migrations  even  to  the  northern  coast 
of  ^orth  America.     They  have  never  been  seen  to  return  to 
Mh>  north,  and  their  migrations  themselves  occur  neither  at 
perlectly  regular  intervals  nor  in  the  same  direction      The 
.  ensity  of  the  columns  also  varies  mu.h  iu  different  parts  of 
tl'o  army.     In  some  seasons  the  numbers  are  countless,  in 
others  very  hmite.l ;  at  one  time  the  individuals  will  be  fat 
and  large,  at  another  very  lean.     By  the  end  of  August  they 


■mi 


168 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


are»no  longer  seen.  Tlie  Dutch,  who,  since  lift,  h.'-e  pro 
secuted  the  Herring-fisliery  witli  tlie  greatest  success,  some- 
times employ  whole  fleets  of  boats  in  the  pursnit.  At  no 
very  remote  period,  the  number  of  boats  annually  leaving 
the  Texel,  under  the  protection  of  vessels  of  war,  amounted 
to  not  less  than  eleven  or  twelve  hundred.  This  titdo  was 
at  its  highest  state  of  prosperity  in  the  year  1618,  ;  wlii.  h 
time  the  number  of  boats  employed  was  8000,  maiinca  by 
fifty  10  sixty  thousand  men.  Since  that  time  the  trade  has 
passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Dutch,  to  a  certain  extent,  and 
is  carried  on  by  many  nations  of  northerly  Europe.  Accord- 
ing to  Black,  the  fishermen  of  Gothenburg  alone,  in'  his  time, 
took  upwards  of  700,000,000  Herrings.  More  than  130,000 
barrels  have  been  exported  from  Bergen  in  Norway ;  the 
amount  consumed  in  the  entire  land  exceeding  double  this 
number.  At  the  present  day,  the  largest  quantities  are  taken 
on  the  shores  of  England.  Recent  investigations  have  ren- 
dercfl  U  i'joi.>able  that  the  Herring  actually  does  live  within 
a  modcr.iiv'-  distance  of  the  localities  where  it  is  caught, 
coming  in  from  the  deep  water  for  the  sake  of  depc^siting  its 
spawn. 

"  A  beautiful  spectacle  is  seen  when  the  Herring  approach 
the  shores ;  the  rays  of  the  sun  are  reflected  from  myriads  of 
silver  scales,  and  above  the  army  may  be  seen  hovering  hosts 
of  gulls,  terns,  and  other  sea-birds.  Behind  and  alongside  are 
numerous  rapacious  fish,  which,  with  seals,  porpoises,  and 
other  marine  animals,  devour  immense  numbers.  The  water 
is  filled  with  loose  scales,  rubbed  off  by  their  close  proximity. 
On  account  of  their  vast  numbers,  these  fish  are  vory  easily 
captured.  Tliis  is  done  by  means  of  nets,  either  on  shore  or 
at  sea.  Every  Dutch  smack  has  four  smaller  boats  along 
with  it,  to  carry  fresh  fish  to  the  sea-ports,  and  for  other  pur- 
poses.    They  use  nets  of  500  or  600  fathoms  in  length,  made 


THE    IIERRIXO    P  A  :> 


169 


of  CO...  .e  Per«mn  s.lk,  as  being  stronger  than  hemp.  These 
are  blackened  by  smoke,  in  order  that  the  fi«h  may  not  be 
frighten.  hy  the  white  thread.  The  nets  are  set  in  the 
evenmg,  buoyed  by  empty  barrels,  an,l  stretched  by  weights -• 
tl>ey  thus  rest  at  the  surface  of  he  ae.  In  the  morning^'they' 
are  drawn  in  by  means  of  a  windh.s,  The  Herrings  are 
son.otimes   attracted  within  .acl  „ets   by  lanterns 

suspended  at  various   intervals.  f^int  idea  can  be 

formed  of  the  actual  number  ,.  .  p,,Hfie  fish,,,  which 

exists  at  one  time  in  the  ocean.  ,  hen  we  remen.ber,  how- 
ever,  that  an  annual  consumption  of  over  two  thousand 
m^  mn..  m  Europe,  not  to  mention  the  myriads  devoured  by 
t.  bin  s,  and  various  marine  vertebrata,  scarcely  appears 
to  affect  their  number,  we  may  obtain  an  approximate  con- 
ception  of  what- that  number  must  be  to  which  the  sum  of 
those  annually  destroyed  is  in  sneh  small  proportion 

"As  the  Herrings  are  so  abundant,  and  the  flesh  at  the 
same  time  so  excellent,  various  modes  have  been  adopted  to 
preserve  them  for  a  certain  lengti.  of  time.     Even  at  sea 
many  are  salt.d  down,  an.I  sold  in  this  state.     This  is  called 
by  the  French  .a^er..  vrac.     To  keep  them  longer  than  is 
permitted  by  this  method,  two  other  ways  are  made  use  of  • 
they  are  callerl  white-salting  and  red-salting  (sal^r  en  Mane 
arid  saurer)     1  o  white-salt  E.rring,  they  are  gutted  on  being 
aught,  and  packed  in  ban  .Is,  with  u  thick  brine  poured  over 
them.     They  are  there  retained,  until  it  is  convenient  to  give 
them  a  fi.utl  packing,     .^fter  the  bustle  of  the  fishing  is  over 
the  smacks  or  busses  run  in  and  discharge  their  cargoes,  when 
the  barrels  are  inspected,  and  the  fish  sorted  under  the  in- 
spection  of  official  authorities.     They  are  then  repacked  with 
fresh  lime  and  salt,  and  the  particular  quality  marked  on  the 
barrel   by  the  brand  of  an  inspector.      The  red-salting  is 
effected  by  allowing  fat  Herrings  to  lie  for  a  eonsiderabh 


EMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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1.0 


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ut 


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2.0 
I. 


1-25  1  1.4   III  1.6 

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► 

Photographic 

Sdences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145<>0 

(716)  873-4503 


// 


i 


170 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


t 


time  in  the  brine,  then  arranging  them  on  hurdles,  and 
placing  them  in  ovens  holding  from  ten  to  twelve  thousand, 
for  the  purpose  of  being  dried  and  smoked.  The  invention 
of  pickling,  as  applied  to  Herring,  has  been  ascribed  to 
Wilhelm  Boekelson,  or  Beukelson,  a  fisherman  of  Viervliet 
in  the  province  of  Zealand  (about  1440) :  he,  however,  only 
improved  an  art  known  before  his  time.  The  Emperor 
Charles  V.  eat  a  herring  over  his  grave,  in  thankful  acknow- 
ledgment of  his  worth,  and  erected  a  monument  to  his  honor 
in  1556. 

"  Several  species  of  Herring  are  caught  in  vast  numbers  on 
the  coast  and  in  the  Atlantic  rivers  of  the  United  States. 
The  principal  of  these  is  the  Glupea  ehnguta,  the  representa- 
tive of  G.  harengus.  Besides  Ahsa  sapidissima,  or  Shad, 
already  mentioned,  Alosa  tyrannm  and  A.  fnenhaden  are  of 
economical  value,  the  former  as  an  article  of  food,  the  latter 
for  manure.  Immense  numbers  are  taken  and  spread  on 
poor  lands,  to  which  they  impart  a  fertility  not  inferior  to 
that  produced  by  guano." 

In  the  United  States,  Herrings  are  most  abundant  in  the 
rivers  that  flow  into  the  Chesapeake.  In  Maryland  and 
Virginia  they  have  even  been  used  as  manure,  as  the  small 
species  known  as  "  Manhaden"  and  "  Mossbunkers"  have  been 
farther  north.  In  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  the  custom 
of  visiting  the  "fishing-shores"  annually  for  a  supply  of 
Herrings  to  salt  down,  still  exists  as  an  "institution,"  and 
the  inhabitants  for  many  miles  back  from  the  rivers  that 
furnish  these  fish,  come  every  spring  and  take  away  immense 
numbers  of  them. 

One  of  the  greatest  hauls  with  a  seine  that  I  ever  heard  of, 
was  made  by  a  fisherman  on  the  Potomac  near  Dumfries,  Va. 
With  one  sweep  of  his  long  net  he  encompassed  a  school 
which  supplied  all  applicants.     Ht  dold  them  as  long  as  they 


THE   HERRING   FAMILY. 


171 


v^rould  bring  a  price,  and  then,  after  furnishing  them  to  the 
people  of  the  immediate  neighborhood  without  charge,  lifted 
his  net  and  allowed  the  remainder  of  the  imprisoned  fish  to 
escape. 

The  Herring  will  occasionally  take  a  bait,  and  on  a  sun- 
shiny  day  in  May,  when  the  wind  is  from  the  south,  will  jump 
at  a  piece  of  red  flannel  tied  to  a  hook.  An  old  Scotch 
merchantof  NewYork— a  superannuated  Trout-fisher— some 
years  back  was  in  the  habit  of  fishing  for  them  with  a  fly, 
from  the  decks  of  vessels  in  the  East  River. 


THE  SHAD. 

Aloaa  pfcestabilus :   Db  Kat. 

The  Shad  is  held  in  greater  estimation  by  the  epicure  than 
by  the  angler.  When  property  in  season,  it  is  considered  by 
many  the  most  delicious  fish  that  can  be  eaten.  Fresh 
Salmon,  or  a  Spanish  Mackerel,  or  a  Pompano  may  possibly 
equal  it ;  but  who  can  forget  the  delicate  flavor  and  juicj 
sweetness  of  a  fresh  Shad,  broiled  or  "planked;"  hot  from 
the  fire,  opened,  salted  and  peppered,  and  spread  lightly  with 
fresh  May  butter. 

There  is  one  peculiarity  of  the  Shad,  which  some  of  its 
advocates  of  our  city  claim  for  it,  which  is,  that  the  longer  it 
remains  in  fresh  water  up  to  the  time  of  spawning,  the  fatter 
and  iLore  juicy  it  becomes.  This  is  seemingly  paradoxical, 
as  the  Shad  is  never  found  in  fresh  water  with  any  food  in  its 
stomach  or  intestines.  What  then  does  it  feed  on ;  or  how  does 
It  grow  fatter  as  it  gets  towards  its  place  of  spawning?  Is  the 
theory,  or  more  properly  the  hypothesis,  that  it  "lives  by 
auction,"  correct?    That  is,  that  it  retains  aninialcula  and 


172 


AMERICAN    ANGLIR'S    BOOK. 


microscopic  animals  contained  in  the  water  as  it  passes 
through  its  gills  in  breathing,  and  appropriates  such  food  to 
its  sustenance. 

It  is  hardly  worth  while  to  go  into  a  description  of  this 
fish,  or  give  a  portrait  of  it ;  for  the  outline  of  its  form  and 
general  appearance  is  as  familia/  to  us  all,  as  the  cut  of  the 
coat  worn  by  "one  of  our  oldest  and  most  respectable 
citizens,"  to  which  coat  the  Shad  has  given  h  name — may 
his  tribe  decrease  not,  nor  his  fatness  and  flavor  diminish 
with  each  vernal  return  of  his  Shadship  I 

Yarrell  says  the  Alice  Shad,  a  European  species,  also 
improves  the  higher  it  ascends  the  rivers.  It  is  admitted, 
however,  by  Englishmen,  that  the  flesh  of  the  Shad  he  men- 
tions, bears  no  comparison  to  ours ;  nor  does  it  attain  more 
than  one-third  the  size. 

Shad  ascend  all  our  rivers,  from  Georgia  to  Maine,  in  the 
spring,  for  the  purpose  of  spawning,  and  at  one  time  every 
tributary  of  the  larger  rivers,  that  had  depth  enough  to  float 
these  deep-bodied  fish,  were  annually  visited  by  them,  until 
mill-dams,  tanneries,  and  other  obstructions  and  nuisances 
prevented  their  return  to  their  native  waters  and  spawn  beds. 
They  entered  the  various  creeks  and  brooks  that  feed  the 
Susquehanna,  away  .up  amongst  the  mountains,  hundreds  of 
miles  from  their  marine  feeding-grounds,  where  they  had  spent 
the  winter  in  attaining  that  increase  in  size,  which  is  only 
exceeded  by  the  almost  miraculous  growth  of  the  Salmon. 
It  is  hardly  to  be  wondered  at,  that  many  of  the  old  settlers 
on  the  stre;  ms  in  the  interior,  opposed  the  introduction  of 
canals  and  slack-water  navigation,  when  these  improvements 
were  at  the  expense  of  the  annual  visits  of  the  Shad,  which 
not  only  furnished  them  an  article  of  luxurious  diet  until  the 
month  of  June,  but  gave  them  a  stock  of  smoked  and  salted 
fish  for  the  winter. 


THE   HBRRINO  FAM.ILT. 


178 


bhad  are  taken  at  Savannah  in  the  latter  part  of  January 
Aa  the  season  advances,  they  enter  the  rivers  successively 
along  the  coast  towards  the  north,  and  are  not  found  in  the 
waters  near  Boston  until  about  May. 

It  was  supposed  at  one  time  that  Shad,  as  I  have  already 
remarked,  were  of  southern  birth,  and  that  the  same  great 
migratory  shoal  gradually  found  its  way  along  the  coast  It 
has  smce  been  pretty  clearly  ascertained  that  this  is  not  the 
case;  and  it  is  now  thought,  with  much  show  of  reason,  that 
they  do  not  wander  far  from  the  mouths  of  the  bays  and 
rivers  from  which  they  migrated  the  preceding  summer  or 
autumn. 

the  Shad  and  Salmon;  both  are  anadromous  fishes,  chanang 
their  habitat  annually  from  salt  to  fresh  water  to  spawn 
both  present  the  same  phenomenon  of  never  having  any  food  J 
in  whatever  process  of  digestion-in  :aeir  stomachs,  after 
reaching  fresh  water ;  and  both  are  not  only  fish  of  extremely 
rapid  growth  in  salt  water,  but  present  the  same  peculiarity 
of  proportions,  that  is,  a  remarkably  small  head  and  deep 
fleshy  body.  ^ 

Frank  Forester's  idea  that  the  Shad  habitually  takes  a  bait 
or  an  artificial  fly  is  an  erroneous  one;  it  is  not  a  predatory 
fish,  and  It  is  to  be  feared  that  his  impression,  or  hope  of  its 
being  classed  among  game  fish  at  some  future  day  will 
never  be  realized ;  though  there  may  have  been  rare  instances 
in  which  It  has  been  taken  with  a  fly,  and  occasionally  with    ■ 
a  small  silver  minnow.    I  waa  once  fortunate  enough  to  hook 
three  m  succession,  when  fishing  for  Peroh  with  a  bright 
little  mmnow  below  Fairmount  Dam,  and  secured  two,  the 
third  was  lost  for  want  of  a  landing-net,  for  the  mouth  is 
extremely  delicate.     They  have  also  been  taken,  though 
rarely,  with  shad-rob.    A  friend  of  the  writer,  a  novice  in 


in 


AMBRIOAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


I 


angling,  some  ten  or  twelve  years  ago  went  to  Fairmount, 
and  in  the  course  of  a  morning's  fishing  caught  three  with 
this  bait.  He  has  never  been  fishing  since  to  my  knowledge, 
and  I  have  no  doubt,  he  is  thoroughly  convinced  that  they 
can  be  taken  in  the  same  way  at  any  time,  and  perhaps  even 
in  the  water  above  the  dam. 

I  have  had  young  Shad  to  leap  into  my  boat  in  the  twi- 
light, pursued,  likely,  by  Eockfish ;  they  were  not  as  long 
as  the  blade  of  a  breakfast-knife  and  not  much  thicker.  One 
of  these  I  examined  carefully ;  but  a  slight  handling  of  the 
silvery  delicate  thing  destroyed  the  young  life,  which  next 
season  after  its  return  from  sea  would  have  made  a  meal  for 
two  or  three  hungry  men. 

After  spawning,  the  Shad,  in  Salmon-fisher's  parlance,  is  a 
kipper,  and  has  lost  nearly  half  its  weight ;  it  then  finds  its 
way  to  the  sea,  and  next  season  returns  with  its  accustomed 
size  and  fatness. 

The  roe  of  the  Shad  is  a  tempting  bait  to  all  fish,  and  is 
much  used  by  Philadelphia  fishermen ;  great  care  is  required 
in  attaching  it  to  the  hook  by  means  of  the  slight  membrane 
that  envelops  it.  Each  ova  as  it  is  washed  from  the  baited 
hook  and  floats  off  down  the  tide,  is  greedily  swallowed  by 
any  fish,  small  or  large,  and  he  is  toled  along  until  he  finds 
the  "placer,"  when  the  "nugget"  is  swallowed  at  a  gulph,  if 
his  mouth  is  large  enough.  Then  if  the  fisher  strikes  at  the 
particular  time  he  hooks  his  prize ;  but  an  inexpert  person 
will  lose  a  hali  dozen  baits. for  every  fish  he  catches,  and  will 
bedaub  the  but  of  his  rod,  hands,  and  coat  sleeves,  until  he 
presents  anything  but  the  appearance  of  a  well-dressed 
angler. 


lount, 
5  with 
ledge, 
they 
I  even 

e  twi- 
long 
One 

)f  the 
next 

il  for 


3,  IS  a 
is  its 
omed 


md  is 
uired 
brane 
taited 
dby 
finds 
)h,  if 
it  the 
erson 
I  will 
til  he 
essed 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

CATFISH  AND  EELS. 


! 


"  Cms  and  Ens,  and  tick  aa  that." 

"O.NBSat'day  night 
Ee  niggns  went  a  Inmtin', 
De  dogs  dey  run  de  Coon, 
De  Coon  he  run  de  Wolver, 
De  Wolver  run  de  StilMeg, 
De  Stfff-leg  run  de  Devil, 
Dey  run  liini  up  do  bill. 
But  dey  cotch  hloi  on  de  leveL 

"  Sat'day  night  come  arter, 
De  niggas  went  a-flahln', 
Dey  call  for  Billy  Carter, 
'Case  he  want  to  go  a-caUin', 
Dey  filled  de  Jug  an'  started 
For  de  Pocomoka  river, 
Chicken-guts  wus  better  bait, 
Dey  dug  a  gourd  o'  wurrinia." 

IVom  a  long  n/the  "  Peasantry  qfthe  South"— iat\jo 
aeeompanimetU  omitttd. 


CHAPTEB  Vril. 
oatush  and  mls. 

O.T«sH.  ^tf«ruf«.-.Extraot  from  loonoKraphio  Encyclop«iia. 

Catfish  and  E.L8  a«  ,„  closely  Ms«=i.ted  in  the  mind, 
of  anglers,  tha.  I  h„e  thongi.  i.  ^^j^  ^  ;„„,„,,  ,^^^  .^ 
the  same  chapter.  In  treating  of  them  I  give  a  brief  b„, 
oomprche„s.ve  article  from  the  Iconographic  Eneyclopiedia 
on  the  &lur.d«.  as  well  as  an  account  of  the  different  fami. 
wrrk     "°^""''''°™  *'''™  '^'""™  •»  Eels,  from  the  same 

"SILDBIDA-Fishes  of  this  femily  have  the  skin  either 
naked,  and  covered  «th  a  slimy  secretion,  or  provided  with 
os^ous  plates  of  various  number  and  shape.  The  head  is 
usual  y  depressed,  and  provided  with  a  variable  number  of 

..mes  confluent  with  .he  caudal.    The  first  rays  of  the  dorsal  ' 
and  jK^ctor^  flos  .„  generally  enlarged  into  strong  spines 
and  he  pectoral  spine  is  capable  of  being  inflexibly  fi«d  by 
peouharmechanism,  in  a  direction  perpendicular  to  the  ^l 
of  the  body.    The  edge  of  the  mouth  is  formed  by  the  inter. 

(177) 


178 


AMERICAN    ANQLKR'8    BOOK. 


maxillaries  suspended  fVom  the  sides  of  the  ethmoid,  which 
Hnters  into  the  outline  of  the  mouth,  forming  the  superior 
median  portion.  The  suboperculum  is  absent  in  the  whole 
family. 

"  Species  of  this  polymorphous  family  are  found  distributed 
throughout  the  globe.  In  Europe,  however,  there  is  found 
but  one  species,  the  Silurus  giants,  or  Sheat  Fish.  This 
species,  interesting  fron.  the  fact  of  its  being  the  largest  fresh- 
water fish  in  Europe,  the  Sturgeons  excepted,  is  most  abund 
ant  in  Central  Europe,  its  existence  in  England  being  hypo- 
thetical. The  weight  has  been  known  to  exceed  100  lbs.,  in 
this  respect  equalling  some  of  the  American  Siluridse.  It 
differs  from  the  North  American  species  in  the  absence  of  a 
posterior  adipose  dorsal,  iu  the  very  small  true  dorsal,  and  in 
the  very  long  anal.  Other  species  of  this  restricted  genus, 
Silurus,  are  found  in  various  parts  of  Asia,  and  perhaps 
Africa,  but  not  in  America.  The  American  forms  are  highly 
varied,  those  of  the  northern  continent,  however,  being  quite 
uniform  in  structure.  The  two  most  conspicuous  fresh-water 
genera  are  Pimelodus  and  Noturus ;  the  former  with  a  distinct 
adipose  dorsal,  the  latter  with  this  dorsal  confluent  with  the 
caudal.  Numerous  species  of  Pimelodus  (Catfish,  Horned- 
Pout,  Bull-Head)  occur  in  the  various  waters  of  North 
America,  some  of  which  acquire  a  large  size.  One  species, 
from  the  Mississippi,  has  been  known  to  weigh  over  100  lbs. 
The  flesh  of  many  species  is  highly  prized,  owing  to  its 
sweetness  and  freedom  from  bones.  The  genus  Noturus, 
known  provincially  as  Stone  Catfish,  embraces  but  few  species, 
found  in  the  Atlantic  streams  south  of  New  York,  and  in 
those  of  the  Mississippi  valley.  They  will  probably  be  dis- 
covered in  the  eastern  rivers  (in  the  Hudson  at  least),  when 
their  ichthyology  has  been  more  fully  studied.    Marine  forms 


CATPI8II    AND    EELS. 


179 


are  met  with  in  Oahichthys,  Arius,  and  Bagm,,  the  former 
characterized  by  the  high  dorsal  and  pectorals. 

"South  America  exhibits  some  Siluroids  of  especial  inte- 
rest.     Conspicuous  among  these  are  Arges  cyclopum,  or  Pime- 
loduscyclopum  of  Humboldt,  and  Brontes  prenadilla,  which 
mhabit  the  highest  regions  in  which  fish  are  known  to  live 
They  are  found  in  Quito,  at  elevations  of  more  than  16  000 
feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  living  in  the  streams  running 
down  the  sides  of  Cotopaxi  and  Tunguragua.      The  most 
interesting  fact  in  the  history  of  these  fishes  is,  that  they  are 
frequently  ejected  from  the  craters  of  the  above-mentioned 
volcanoes,  in  immense  numbers;  the  supply  being  probably 
derived  from  the  subterranean   lakes  in  the   body  of  the 
mountains.     Our  space  will  not  permit  us  to  mention  any 
other  members  of  this  interesting  family,  excepting  the  mL 
laplerus   electricus,   the   Silurus    ehctricus   of   older  authors 
Tks  species  is  characterized  generically  by  the  absence  of 
the  first  dorsal,  the  adipose  dorsal  alone  existing,  as  also  by 
the  possession  of  an  electric  apparatus  or  battery,  somewhat 
intermediate  in  character  between  those  of  Gymmtus  and 
Torpedo,  although  of  much  finer  texture.     The  whole  body 
beneath  the  integuments  is  enclosed  by  the  -^naratus  in  two 
layers  of  great  compactness,  and  at  first  siyhr  suggesting  a 
deposit  of  fat.    A  dense  fascia  separates  the  battery  from  the 
muscular  system.    The  cells,  formed  by  transverse  and  longi- 
tudinal  fibrous  partitions,  are  rhombic  in  shape,  and  exceed- 
mgly  minute     The  nerves  of  the  outer  organ  come  from 
blanches  of  the  fifth  pair  of  nerves,  the  inner  organ  is  sup- 
plied by  the  intercostal  nerves.     The  direction  of  the  current 
1.S  probably  from  the  head  to  the  tail ;  the  cephalic  extremity 
being  positive,  and  the  caudal  negative." 


180 


▲  MKRIOAN    ANOLHR'8    BOOKt 


CATFISH  OP  THE  ATLANTIC  AND  WESTERN 

WATERS. 

No  artist,  not  even  Landseer  himself,  could  give  a  correct 
picture  of  this  familiar  old  friend.  A  profile  does  not  convey 
a  correct  idea,  and  a  perspective  view  won't  do ;  so  I  give  it 
up  in  despair,  believing  that  photography  would  even  fail  in 
its  likeness. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  tell  the  angler  that  there  are  many 

species  of  Catfish  in  this  latitude.    There  is  the  Catfish  of 

our  sluices,  meadow-ditches,  and  ponds.    The  less  ugly  White 

Catfish,  of  rare  excellence  for  the  pan,  which  comes  up  our 

rivers  in  April,  stays  all  summer,  and  goes  back  to  brackish 

or  salt  water  in  winter.    And  there  is  the  great "  Sockdologer" 

of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  with  a  mouth  large 

enough  for  a  little  boy  to  get  his  head  into,  and  a  throat  big 

enough  to  thrust  his  leg  down.    Old  Jack,  a  "short-haired 

brother"  of  the  angle,  down  in  Mississippi,  has  declared  to  me 

he  has  seen  one  "  as  long  as  a  cotton  bale."    I  have,  myself, 

seen  one  carried  through  the  streets  of  New  Orleans,  tied  by 

the  gills  to  a  fence  rail,  with  a  negro  man  supporting  each 

end,  and  the  tail  of  the  fish  touching  the  ground.     I  have 

heard  of  them  weighing  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds ; 

but  I  forbear,  lest  the  reader  should  think  I  exalt  this  fish 

above  measure.     At  the  cabarets  along  the  levee  at  New 

Orleans,  I  have  heard  the  music  of  the  frying-pan,  as  steaks 

of  these  "  whoppers"^  were  cooking,  and  have  seen  the  laborers 

eat  them  with  an  appetite,  but  never  had  the  curiositj  to  tasto 

of  them. 


CATFISH   AWD   BJIL8. 


181 


There  are  two  varieties  of  these  monsters  iu  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi:  the  "Mud  Cat,"  with  a  broad  flat  head,  and  the 

aannel  Oat."  The  latter  is  far  more  active  and  stronger 
tnan  the  former. 

la  my  boyhood,  I  frequently  went  C«tfl,hi„g  with  a  rustic 
■ugler,  whom  I  ehall  nev„r  forgot.    After  breakfast,  oue  of 
the  servants  would  appear  with  a  gourdfull  of  worms,  and  w, 
would  proceed  to  his  favorite  pool,  and  "«,t  our  poj" 
.fokmg  the  but.  whieh  were  sharpened,  into  th7  mudl 
bank,  and  resfng  them  on  forked  sticks.    Ponto,  an  old  bob 
ta.  Pomter,  would  be  one  of  the  party,  .„d  appeared  to  e^i 
he  sport  as  much  as  his  master;  at  the  slightest  tremor  of 
the  cork,  he  would  be^™  restless;  when  if  disappeared  h 

»ould  se.ze  u  or  keep  it  away  from  the  water  with  as  much 
— y  as  he  would  look  for  awounded  partridge.    ..Aun 
Bett,  the  cook,  one  day  docked  Ponfs  tail  with  a  deavef  fo 
ome  depredatton,  as  he  was  retreating  from  the  kitchen ;  a^d 
had  r  ■  '^r'f  °"  °"""'  "™^^  ">"  "ken  "Uncle  To^' 
Pont  s  ta,l  left  m  the  mud,  as  he  sat  on  his  hurdles. 

As  an  expedient,  on  one  occasion,  when  we  forgot  the 
gourd  of  wor,.„  and  were  waiting  while  the  boy  h^  gone 
back  for  It,  we  shot  a  squirrel,  and  a  small  bait  of  its  entrZ 
«  perfectly  a«=eptable  to  our  friends  of  Z  muTdy 

When  the  negroes  went  "a  catting"  at  night,  they  no. 
unfrequently  supplied  themselves  with  chicken'     ntraUs  , 
;t  "  "°"'"'  "^^-^  """  «>«  f—  took  .he  larg  Jcal 

In  regard  .o  .he  ques.i„n  whether  any  fish  manifest  a  care 

or  thetr  young  afte.  the  latter  are  haU>hed  from  the  spar 

I  am  .nformed  by  a  brother  angler-the  same  who  X"' 


182 


AMERICAN    ANQLEK'S    MOOK, 


defence  of  the  Chub,  and  on  whose  statement  I  can  rely 
with  entire  confidence — that  in  his  younger  days  when  going 
to  a  large  mill-pond  to  bathe,  he  was  struck  with  the  move- 
ments of  a  Catfish  some  ten  to  twelve  inches  long,  which  was 
swimming  near  the  bank,  in  water  about  twelve  or  fifteen 
inches  deep,  making  circuits  round  and  round  a  mass  of  dark 
specks,  which  were  lying  huddled  together  in  a  space  about  a 
foot  in  diamete:^.  Upon  lying  down  on  the  bank  and  parting 
the  sedge  and  long  grass  which  overhung  the  water,  he  dis- 
covered that  the  dark  specks  were  youug  Catfish,  about 
one-half  to  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  length,  while  the 
maternal  anxiety  manifested  by  the  parent  fish  was  ex- 
plained by  his  observing  at  a  short  distance  a  number  of 
hungry  Sunfish,  who  were  hovering  round,  and  with  greedy 
eyes  watching  their  chance  to  make  a  dash  at  the  young 
innocents.  Whenever  any  of  the  heedless  brood  would  show 
an  inclination  to  swim  away  from  the  flock,  the  old  one  would 
head  them  ofi"  and  drive  them  back  to  the  fold,  and  protecting 
them  from  the  maw  of  the  spoilers  so  long  as  my  friend 
watched  this  curious  exhibition  of  an  instinct  which  till  then 
he  had  supposed  all  kinds  of  fish  to  be  wholly  devoid  of. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  describe  the  tackle  and  manner  of 
taking  the  Catfish:  either  or  both  must  be  suited  to  the 
water  and  size  of  the  fish. 

The  smaller  species  are  favorite  pan-fish  in  the  Atlantic 
States,  from  Delaware  to  Georgia.  The  larger,  particularly  the 
White  forked-tail  Catfish  of  tide-water,  makes  an  excellent 
stew.  They  should  not  be  skinned,  nor  the  heads  taken  oflf- 
but  well  scraped  and  washed,  then  seasoned  with  onions  and 
other  pot-herbs,  and  smoked  bacon-flitch :  a  little  rich  miJk 
*hould  be  poured  in  the  stow  before  it  is  taken  oflf  the  fire. 


CATFISH  AKB  BtLS. 


US 


EELa 

OWvations  from  the  "loonograpUe  Encyclopedia." 

"P«BOKY«>»T,„^.    This  family,  the  lit  of  the  i,.. 

«o^<».,  >s  a^,„  „thout  lateral  Sn,:  a  continuous  median  fin 

formed  by  the  coalescence  of  the  dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal 

Besp:rat.on  .s  generally  performed  by  means       fixed  gill, 

the  lateral  openmgs  to  which  are  seven  in  number  on  each 

side.    A  smgle  nostril  is  placed  on  the  top  of  the  head.    The 

prmcpal  forms  belong  to  the  genera  Pe,ron,,^on  or  true 

Lamprey  Eel,  and4m„«,„fe,,  or  Sand  Lamprey.    The  former 

frmged  w.th  c.h»  to  assist  the  animal  in  attaching  itself  to 

being  efifected  by  atmospheric  pressure.    Fishes  of  various 
kmds  are  not  unirequently  caught  bearing  the  bloody  ci,.ular 
scar  produced  by  the  bite  of  the  Lamprey,  and  quite  often 
the  .amprey  .  self    The  Catfish,  or  Pi^/W^,  .p^.^,  ,„  ^ 
especally  hable  to  such  att«,ks.    The  Lampreys  attain  to 
great  stze,  and  are  highly  prized  by  some  motions.    The  love 
borne  then,  by  the  ancient  Eomane  is  a  matter  of  classical 
history,  and  at  the  present  day  they  are  the  favorite  food  of 
epicures. 

"The  rnr^id^  or  Eels,  with  the  normal  structure  of 
je  gUl  aperture,  ye.  have  them  very  small  and  capable 

aid  Ih'  Z"  If"^  '"'*  ""^^  '^  sarpentiform, 
and  although  provded  with  scales,  these  are  scarcely  ap! 
parent,  bemg  embedded  in  a  thick  mucous  skin.  The  air- 
bWder.s  polymorphous,  and  the  intestines  without  coeca. 
The  Eel,  m  their  dififerent  species,  are  inhabitants  of  both 


184 


AHBRIOAN    ANGLBR'S    BOOK. 


fresli  and  salt  waters;  those  living  in  the  former  belong- 
ing generally  to  the  restricted  genus  Anguilla.  Species  of 
Anguilla  occur  in  greater  or  less  number  throughout  the 
United  States,  being,  however,  very  rare  in  many  if  not  most 
of  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  basin.  Popular  opinion 
assigns  to  these  species  a  viviparous  reproduction,  owing  to 
the  apparent  absence  of  individuals  containing  eggs.  The 
ova  are  yet,  probably,  present  in  a  due  proportion  of  the 
supposed  males,  escaping  observation  by  their  diminutive 
size.  The  Eel  hardly  yields  to  any  other  fish  in  the  power 
of  sustaining  a  deprivation  of  its  proper  element  for  a  con- 
siderable length  of  time.  To  transport  these  animals  over  a 
considerable  space,  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  pack  them  in 
damp  grass  or  some  similar  substance.  They  even  leave  the 
water  spontaneously  at  night  in  search  of  food,  or  of  a  body 
of  water  better  suited  to  their  convenience  than  the  one  in 
which  they  may  happen  to  be  placed.  Eels  are  said  to  be 
very  susceptible  to  magnetic  or  galvanic  influence :  the  sim- 
ple contact  of  a  knife  being  sufficient  to  paralyze  them. 
When  a  magnet  is  presented  to  the  dish  in  which  the  living 
animal  may  happen  to  be,  violent  contortions,  a  painful 
gasping  after  breath,  and  other  signs  of  inconvenience,  are 
reported  to  be  exhibited. 

"The  Gymnotidm,  highly  interesting  on  account  of  their 
electrical  properties,  are  characterized  by  the  anterior  position 
of  the  anus,  the  entire  absence  of  dorsal  fin,  the  extent  of  tlie 
anal,  and  the  position  of  the  gill-opening.  The  best  known 
species,  Oymnotu^  electricru  or  Electric  Eel,  is  a  native  of  the 
tropical  portions  of  South  America.  It  attains  to  a  great 
size,  being  sometimes  over  six  feet  in  length,  and  almost  a 
full  load  for  a  strong  man  to  c^rry.  The  electric  or  galvanic 
apparatus  consists  of  four  longitudinal  bundles,  disposed  in 
two  pairs,  one  larger  above,  and  a  smaller  below,  against  the 


CATII9B   AND   lElj. 


18S 

h^  Of  the  anal  Bn.  The  fa«=io»li  are  divided  by  Wi,„di 
nal  pa„.t.„ns  .„to  he.ag„aal  prism,  and  transvei  d  vt  t 
separate  these  into  small  cells.    The  cells  are  filled  with 

rr  u  nerves  Irom  the  spinal  marrow.    In  the  Tor. 

pedo  these  nerves  come  directly  from  the  brain 

"  The  amount  of  electricity  fnrnished  by  the  Gymnotns  is 
enormous^  Faraday  made  a  calcnUtion  in'regard'to  a"" 
men  of  ordinary  sue  examined  by  him,  that  a  single  merm 
discharge  was  equal  to  that  from  a  battery  of  8600  so  Z 
.oches  charged  to  its  maximum.  It  need  not  hen  be  " 
matter  of  surprise  that  the  Gymnotns  is  capable  of  kmi!.  „ 
horse  by  repeated  discharges;  which  it  does  by  apply  n!°it 
whole  length  along  the  belly  of  the  animal  wT^'^'^u! 

bTtle  slT"^-  ""'^"'"^^  '-»  «7-otus  n^e  Zl 
by  the  South  American  Indians,  consists  in  driving  a  number 

Electric  Eels  abound.   Boused  from  their  retreats  in  the  mud 
he  Gymnot.  emerge  into  the  water,  and  gliding  in  aZg 
he  ammal,  give  to  them  violent  shocks.    A  s!ccessrn  of 
^charges  results  in  weakening  the  Eels  to  such  a  dt^  a^ 
t^  make  It  a  matter  of  little  danger  or  difficulty  to  ^C 
hem^    The  voltaic  pile,  formed  by  the  electric  apparZ  o7 
the  Gymnotus,  is  much  like  that  of  the  Tornedo  ■  Z     T 
being  longitudinal,  however,  in  the  nalTrT  p.i T;:^:: 
ammal,  instead  of  vertical.    The  anterior  or  cephal  ie«rem 

capable  of  discharging  any  portion  of  its  column.    The  sub 

rzn^ur ::r  ^nr ;r  '-^'  ^ 

-e.»aent,  answering  to  .h:'LirC:i:Ct:: 


18A 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


THE  COMMON  EEL. 


Anguilla  communii. 

I  canrot  say  that  Mr.  Billy  Allen,  who  kept  a  tavern  at 
Culpepper  Court  House,  Virginia,  many  years  ago,  had  a 
very  extensive  knowledge  of  the  natural  sciences;  but  he 
sagely  remarked  on  one  occasion,  that  a  Mink  was  "  a  great 
incendiary  to  a  hen-house  I"  Quoting  the  aforesaid  authority, 
I  might  pronounce  the  Eel  a  great  incendiary  to  a  fishing-line. 
Knots  and  slime!  how  often  he  ha;  brought  the  youthful 
angler  to  grief  I 

It  is  astonishing  how  many  knots  a  nimble  little  Eel,  of  a 
half  yard  long,  can  tie  in  a  boy's  line,  from  the  time  he  is 
landed,  until  he  is  taken  oflF  the  hook,  or  until  his  head  is  cut 
off.  There  are  hard  knots  and  bow  knots,  single  knots  and 
double  knots,  all  cemented  with  the  pervading  slime.  The 
last  resort  of  the  little  angler  is,  to  do  as  Alexander  the 
Great  did  with  the  Gordian  Knot ;  and  take  out  his  jack- 
knife  and  cut  his  line ;  thus  reducing  the  many  knots  to  one. 

Albeit  the  Eel  is  a  "  slippery  fellow, ^^  there  are  several  facts 
in  its  natural  history  which  are  interesting.  One  is,  that  it 
spawns  in  salt  or  brackish  water,  and  migrates  to  fresh  water ; 
the  very  reverse  of  Shad,  Herring,  and  Salmon. 

Young  Eela  are  found  all  along  shore  in  fresh  tidewater 
streams,  in  this  latitude,  in  April  or  May,  by  turning  over  a 
stone,  when  they  shoot  out  and  seek  another  hiding-place  for 
the  time ;  at  that  season  ot  the  year  they  are  not  larger  than 
a  darning-needle  and  quite  transparent,  showing  their  vital 


CATriSH   <SB   EB18. 


187 


organ,  plainly.  Thej  collect  at  th,  head  of  tidewater,  b 
great  numbers,  endeavoring  to  surmount  falls  or  rapids,  and 
many  perish  ,n  the  attempt  or  are  devoured  by  flsh  Thev 
.nay  be  taken  i„  such  places,  with  a  small  sco„p.uet  made 
of  sea-grass  skm.ng,  or  other  open  fabric,  and  used  with 
great  effect  as  ban  for  Perch  and  small  Bockash 

I  have  seen  no  less  than  a  barrel  of  these  silverv  trans 

parent  l.ttle  animals  congregated  in  a  pool  at  low  tid^  below 

he  western  angle  of  the  dam  at  Fairmount,  waiting  to  renew 

h«r  efforts  to  get  over  the  fell  at  high  water;  and  any  little 

In  the  fall  they  descend  our  rivers  and  are  taken  in  weirs 
raf«,  and  eel-pots  in  immense  numbers;  in  the  Susquehann^ 

a  single  we.r  sometimes  produces  two  barrels  of  Eels  in  . 

night     They  „e  speared  at  night  in  the  upper  ^Ll 
he  reflection  from  the  to,.h  giving  them  a  white,  glaring 

appearance.  '  o^**^*"S 

I  used  to  bob  for  them  from  a  boat,  when  a  boy.    Imagine 
three  or  four  urchin,  barefooted,  with  trousers  rolled  up  o 
heir  knees,  and  occasionally  a  cold  slimy  Eel  of  larger  size 
than  common,  gliding  over  their  feet  or  around  their  ankles 
There  was  some  screaming  and  laughing  on  such  occasions' 
which  did  not  accord  with  the  general  idea  of  a  flshing-party 
and  here  was  also  some  scraping  of  dry  slime  from  jackets' 
and  trousers  next  morning.  jai-^eis 

Eels  are  speared  in  winter,  on  the  salt  flats  along  our  coast 

"Jh  rhr::  r  'T"-'  '^''-  ^^  -rtam  IdicaZ 
what  hole  to  drive    his    implement    into,  without  seeing 

them,  and  draws  it  ou^  with  the  impaled  Eels  writhi-,  and 

squirming.  °      ^ 

These  fish  are  not  viviparous  or  hermaphrodites,  as  some 
-uppose.  but  the  spawn  is  impregnated  by  the  male  Z 


188 


AMBRIOAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


ejection,  as  is  the  case  with  other  oviparous  fishes.  They 
spawn  in  salt  or  brackish  water,  and  the  vernal  migration 
to  fresh-water  streams  commences  at  an  early  period  of  their 
existence.  The  autumnal  journey  towards  the  sea  begins 
in  September  in  this  latitude. 

It  would  appear  without  reflection  that  it  is  strange  that 
there  are  no  Eels  in  the  Mississippi  and  its  thousands  of 
miles  of  tributaries,  at  least  I  have  never  seen  one  there ; 
but  if  we  look  at  the  immense  distance  upward  and  down- 
ward, and  the  time  it  would  occupy,  it  would  seem  that 
instinct  or  some  wise  law  of  Providence  annuls  the  rule 
which  obtains  in  the  tidal  streams  of  the  Atlantic  States. 

Although  a  prejudice  exists  against  Eels,  on  account  of 
their  reptilian  form,  they  are  excellent  eating.  Sometimes, 
when  taken  in  a  muddy  creek  or  mill-pond,  they  are  purified 
by  putting  them  in  a  box  with  holes  bored  in  it,  in  a  spring 
branch,  when  they  rid  themselves  of  any  strong  taste  they 
may  have  acquired  in  their  former  home. 


They 
^ration 
f  their 
begins 


:e  that 
ads  of 
there ; 
down- 
n  that 
e  rule 
es. 

ant  of 
etimes, 
urified 
spring 
9  they 


ViiAFTEIl  IX. 


THE  ISALMO>f  FAMIL 


"Abdskd  mortals,  did  you  know 
Where  Joy,  heart's  ease,  and  comforts  grow, 

You'd  scorn  proud  towers, 

And  seek  them  in  these  bowers ; 
Where  winds  sometimen  our  woods  per'aps  nuiy  ahake^ 
But  blustering  care  could  never  tempest  make, 

Noi  murmurs  e'er  come  nigh  us. 

Saving  of  fountains  that  glide  bv  ui 

"  Blest  silent  groves,  oh  may  yon  be 
For  ever  mirth's  best  nurswyt 
May  pure  contents 
For  ever  pitch  their  tenta 
Upon  these  downs,  these  meads,  these  rocks,  these  mountkini, 
And  peace  still  slumber  by  thoae  purling  fountains, 
Which  we  may  every  year 
Meet  when  we  come  a-flshing  here." 

Waiiom. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  SALMON  FAMILY.— SALMONIDJB. 
Kemarks  on  im  Salmonid^k. 

'  b?"Zwt7  Vf ""'''  de,cription.-Habit-  and  manner  of  breed- 

Z7o^7  t";"°"  "  ^'^  '^^^^^^'^  '^~"»  «^  -ti"  waters  Td 
those  of  br«k  s^«aa.s.-Effect  of  light  and  shade,  and  bright  or  d«k 
water,  on  the  color  of  Trout  —Fr^.^  „  j  * 

the  Tronf  f*  *'''™»*— Errors  as  regards  new  speciea.-FwKl  of 
the  Trout-Its  greed.ness.-It,  geographical  range.-Former  abund 
ance  and  causes  of  deorease.-SiEe  of  Trout  in  L  *  V 

Superior  and  State  of  Maine -Size  in!  .       regions  of  Lake 

RnH  »i,n  *k  .     .   '^'"'°®~«'"  ">  the  preserved  waters  of  Endand 

and  size  the  angler  is  restricted  to  in  rented  waters 

Thk  SALHON.-Former  abundance  in  the  rivers  of' New  York  .rH  .. 
Eastern  States.-Great  numbers  in  California.  Or!;„    al'    Brit  s,' 
sZrr         "  ''  '''  Salmon-fisheries  in  BriL'  ^vinc    - 

-^vTslTT^T'^T'  ^'"^'^  ''  P-Pagation.-Their  growth. 
-Parr.  Smolt  and  Gnlse.-Mature  Salmon.-Size  of  Salmon. -Instinct 
--B.sJock.ng  depleted  rivers,  and  introducing  Salmon  into  new  wl:; 
-Their  m,grat.on  from  sea  to  fresh  rivers,  and  gradual  preparation  f" 
the.r  change  «f  habitat.-Salmon-loaps.-Food  of  Salmon  at  sea. 
Thk  CA.An.AN  Tkout.  or  S.a  Trout.     Salmo  Canadensis. -Error  in 

1  tZ  r        r  {"'■"'"  ^^""^  Trout).-Sea-T«>ut  fishing  in 

fi8h.ng._The.r  abundance  in  the  rivers  falling  into  the  Gulf  of  St 
Lawrence,  and  annoyance  to  Salmon-fishers 

-Account  of  three  summers  fishing  in  the  Schoodic  Lakes. 
Thk  Grkat  Lake  Trout.     Salmo  ««mayc«.A.-Manner  of  taking  them 
Thk  Lksskr  Lakk  Trout.    Sal.o  ^..W«;h..-Trolling  for  Lake  T^t 

(lyi) 


192 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


The  Smelt.  Oimenu  viriducens.—Their  great  numberii  along  the  north- 
ern part  of  our  coast.— Smelt  in  the  Sohuylkill.— Quantity  sent  aoufh 
fh)m  Boston.— Smelt  used  aa  a  fertiliaer. 

Tbi  Capklin.     MaUotut  villotut. 

Toe  WaiTErisH.     Coregonut  albut. 

Trout  Bait-fishino. 

The  family  of  Salmonidu  embraces  many  genera,  of  which 
the  genus  Sulmo  furnishes  nearly  all  the  species  that  contri- 
bute to  the  sport  of  the  angler,  or  that  may  property  be  called 
game  fish. 

Of  the  genus  Salmo,  the  following  species  are  herein 
described : — 

The  Brook  Trout,  or  Speckled  Trout.    Salmo  fontinalit. 

The  Salmon.    Salmo  aalar. 

The  Canadian  Trout.  Salm/)  Canaderuis.  Known  as  the 
Sea  Trout. 

The  Schoodic  Trout.  Salmo  Gloveri.  Of  the  St.  Croix  River. 

The  Great  Lake  Trout.     Salmo  namaycuth. 

The  Lesser  Lake  Trout.    Salmo  Adirondacua. 

There  are  other  species  than  these,  described  by  ichthyolo- 
gists as  being  found  in  the  rivers  and  lakes  of  that  vast  extent 
of  country  on  our  north,  known  as  the  British  Possessions, 
and  in  the  rivers  on  the  Pacific  coast;  but  as  the  object  of 
this  work  is  to  interest  the  angler  rather  than  the  naturalist, 
1  mention  only  those  that  are  accessible  and  furnish  sport  to 
the  brethren  of  the  rod. 

Of  the  genus  Thymallua,  to  which  the  Grayling  of  England 
belongs,  we  have  oily  two  species,  as  far  as  has  been  ascer- 
tained. I  only  give  an  account  of  one,  Thymallua  signifer, 
the  Standard  Bearer,  Back's  Grayling. 

Of  the  genus  Osm^rus,  we  have  only  one  acknowledged 
species  in  this  country,  0.  viridtacent,  the  Smelt. 

Of  the  genus  Ooregonua,  we  have  ten  species  described  by 


^'HK    SALMON    FAMILY. 


198 


ichthyologists,  and  perhaps  several  more  of  whJ  h       a       • 
tion  has  yet  been  given      A«  .,        T  t  •  "°  '^^""'''P- 

^.h,  I  have  onlyXea  ttc    7      I  1  ''"'"  ""  '''''''''' 
,  umy  reiorrea  to  C.  alhn,,  the  large  Whitofiah 

One  of  the  eharooleristio  mark.,  by  which  the  most  oarelo™ 
observer  can  distinguish  an,  spedes  of  SalmonilTtr 
-oad  dorsal  fin,  which  is  always  adipose,  a  me™  Vnl 
n.ga,  wanfng  ,n  the  usual  «„.™,,  An/flsh  that  Z  Zl 
-th  hav,ng  .t,  except  a  Catfish,  may  safely  be  set  doll 
one  of  the  Salmon  Family.  ^         j         « uown  m 

The  Salmonid*  delight  in  cold  waters,  and  their  «„ 
graphical  range,  whether  inland  or  on  .h.  .  * 

extends  below  the  thiny-eigUh  pLTel  Th  T  ""'" 
article  of  f«^  and  impo^rtaL  inT:iXi:-r 
c  hanilye  appreciated,  unless  one  enters  into  an  1™!' 
gallon  of  all  the  statistical  information  on  reeort. 

It 


IM 


AliHicilM       KdLK&'B  aft«g. 


BROOK  TROUT.    SPECKLED  TROUT. 

Salmo  fontinatit :   MiToaii.. 

Form  elliptical,  elongated.  Color,  olive  on  the  back,  ahad-' 
ing  gradually  lighter  to  the  lateral  line ;  sides  still  lighter, 
with  roseate  pearly  reflections ;  belly  white  and  rose-tinted, 
sometimes  shaded  with  yellow,  and  oocaaionaUy  a  deep  orange, 
"^be  nattJrkings  of  this  fish  are  beautiful ;  the  sides  are  covered 
vvith  y.  lowish  spots  of  raetallio  lustre  interi^rsed  above  and 
below  *he  lateral  line  with  smaller  spots  of  bright  vermilion ; 
the  back  is  vermiculated,  that  is,  marked  with  dark  tracings 
of  irregular  form,  many  of  which  run  into  each  other.  The 
dorsal  fin  has  five  or  six  lines  of  dark  spots ;  the  pectorals 
are  olive,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  anterior  rays,  which 
are  black  and  much  stouter  than  the  others ;  the  anterior  ray 
of  the  ventrals  and  anal  is  white,  the  next  black,  and  the  re- 
maining rays  a  deep  orange ;  the  caudal  is  slightly  concave, 
with  dusky  markings  on  the  upper  border  of  the  rays.  The 
head  is  rather  more  thai  one-fifth  the  length  of  the  body, 
exclusive  of  caudal;  breaith  one-fourth. 

There  are  ten  branchial  rays :  the  first  dorsal  fin  has  eleven 
rays;  the  second  dorsal  being  adipose  is  without  rays;  the 
pectorals  have  twelva  rays;  the  ventrals  eight;  anal  nine; 
caudal  nineteen. 

No  fish  affords  as  luiiioi  p  rt  *-^  the  angler  as  the  Brook 
Trout;  whether  he  is  ikiv^;  ky  jy  the  co-ntry  urchin,  who 
ties  his  knotted  horsehuii-iim)  to  his  alde^-pole,  and  "snakes 


H 
t) 
O 
M 
H 

O 

o 

M 

cc 

» 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


196 


w„„^,,,   .  °  overhanging  branches  of  the 

wooded  stream;  or  by  the  .cieatific  angler,  who  delivers  hi, 

ott       n  .  :  '""*"' "— ««bt  out  and  lighu" 
-from  h.s  well-balanced  rod.  and  kills  his  iish  artisticaUy 
He  .s  as  game  as  a  bantam  cock,  and  with  a  pliant  rod  and 

o  herth tf  VT't"  «''"  ■"   ™<=-  ^^"   -  •»- 

Ind  natnral      V"    T  *"'  "  ^"*'"  «'"""»  "'  "'  habits 
and  natnral  history;  his  nnnatnral  death  we  will  .peak  of 

ttiionti'  ur""'  ™^  '"»'= "  --  -™ 

that  the  Trent  should  die  by  his  hands,  than  in  any  other 

stream,  and  look  ,„,„  a  pool  with  smooth  glidin..  current 
where  a  spring  branch  enters ,  or  wander  alo^  the°b  r  f 
ome  clear,  cool  tributary  of  the  main  brook,  yon  maytd  I 
do.en  Trontcongregated-scnetimes  a  half  doz     Tr  L    1 
pair-and  ,f  not  disturbed  by  a  freshet,  caught  by  the  all 
or  snared  by  the  villanous  poacher,  with  hi  wi^loop  f  I' 
will  remain  there  until  October  or  November,  when      e 
female  will  cast  her  spawn-some  say  in  a  f„  row   ml 
longitudinally  or  diagonally  in  the  b«l  of  the  sZm  t 
rooting  with  her  nose ;  others  say,  more  after  the  mre'r  of 
broadcast     Whichever  it  be,  the  male  fish  follows  "!„ 
*ately,  ejecting  his  milt  over  it.    The  parents  of  the  fZre 
progeny  then,  as  a  usual  thing,  take  their  course  down  st  iL 
to  some  deep  pool,  and  there  remain  in  winter  quarte'r 
-ovenng  strength  and  fle.h  until  the  ensuing  spring  whn 
bey  move  up  str^im  with  every  rise  of  water,'alLys''o:t 

rise  at  a  fly  and  reproducing  in  autumn  as  before. 

After  fecundation  the  ova  assumes  a  somewhat  brownish 


196 


AMEBiCAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


transparent  hue,  each  egg  showing  in  its  centre  a  small  dark 
spot,  which  is  the  embryo  of  the  future  fish.  The  young  fish 
are  hatched  out  in  two  or  three  months,  and  appear  somewhat 
larger  than  the  little  wriggle-tails  in  a  barrel  of  stale  rain- 
water. They  have  large  prominent  eyes  and  little  pot-bellies, 
ichthyologically  termed  "  umbilical  bladders,"  in  which  is 
stored  the  sustenance  left  from  the  egg,  and  which  lasts  three 
or  four  weeks,  or  until  they  commence  seeking  their  own 
food.  By  this  time  they  have  grown  to  an  inch  and  a  half 
long ;  they  then  seek  the  shallows  and  gentle  margins  of  the 
brook,  or  smaller  rills,  and  commence  feeding  on  minute 
aquatic  insects  and  the  larva  of  flies. 

It  is  surprising  how  small  a  quantity  of  running  water  will 
sustain  a  school  of  young  Trout.  I  have  seen  a  half  dozen 
in  a  track  left  by  a  horse's  foot,  in  a  mossy  spring  branch. 
Trout  have  the  same  dusky  patches  or  finger-marks,  that  all 
their  congeners  have,  when  young.  As  far  as  I  have  observed, 
they  rarely  attain  a  size  beyond  four  or  five  inches  during  the 
first  summer  in  our  mountain  streams.  They  seldom  venture 
into  the  larger  waters  until  the  second  summer,  when  they 
are  the  little  fingerlings  that  jump  at  one's  droppers,  as  he  is 
killing  their  progenitor  on  the  stretcher-fly. 

At  our  noonings,  when  we  have  emptied  our  creels  to 
select  the  larger  fish  for  a  roast,  or  a  bake  under  the  ashes,  I 
have  placed  the  whole  catch  in  a  row,  the  smallest  at  one  end, 
increasing  in  size  to  the  largest  at  the  other  end,  and  en- 
deavored to  theorize  as  to  their  ages,  or  separate  the  year- 
lings from  the  two  year  old,  and  those  of  three  from  those  of 
four  years;  but  have  never  been  able  to  draw  a  line  separatint^, 
with  any  degree  of  certainty,  the  fish  of  a  year  from  those  of 
two,  or  those  of  two  from  those  of  three  years,  and  so  on  to 
the  largest.  No  general  rule  as  to  their  growth  could  be 
laid  down,  unless  all  the  fish  of  one  year  had  been  hatched 


THE   SALMON    FAMILY. 


197 


out  at  the  same  time,  and  enjoyed  the  same  advantages  of  feed 
and  range  of  water,  up  to  the  time  of  being  caught.  Still 
m  a  brisk  stream,  I  have  generally  considered  a  Trout  of 
seven  inches  as  being  in  its  second  summer;  one  of  nine  or 
en  zn  its  third  summer;  a  fish  of  twelve  or  thirteen  in  ita 
lourtn ;  and  so  on. 

The  Trout  found  in  the  deep  still  waters  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  though  a  variety,  of  this  species,  are  a  third,  or 
one.half  larger  at  the  same  age,  than  the  fish  of  our  clear 
rapid  streams ;  and  as  the  rivers  and  lakelets  there  are  less 
MM  than  the  tributaries  of  the  Delaware,  Hudson,  and 
Susciaehanna,  the  Trout  have  a  chance  of  growing  older,  and- 
consequently  larger.    From  my  own  observation,  the  average 
s^e  of  the  adult  fish  in  northern  New  York  is  at  least  double 
that  of  the  fish  taken  in  the  streams  flowing  into  the  rivers 
named  above. 

Some  years  ago,  I  had  an  afternoon-s  fishing  in  Hamilton 
County  when  the  catch  was  forty.flve  pounds.  The  fish 
averaged  fourteen  inches  in  length,  and  not  le,,s  than  a  pound 

r  Tf  ■  .      !,""'  ""  "'°"  ""'^  '  "-  "''y-  '«"^  ™  he 
has  token  three  Trout  of  two  pounds  each,  at  a  single  cast,  in 

theKaquetteK>ver,and  repeated  it  several  times  in  sue  es- 

s.on ;  and  that  he  took  off  his  drop.flies,  to  prevent  a  surfeit 

01  sport,  or  too  much  strain  on  his  light  rod 
I  have  achieved  something  in  the  way'  of  taking  large 

Trout  .n  Hamtlton  County,  but  after  a  man  has  satisfied  the 
senum^t  of  camping  out,  and  been  bitten  to  his  heart', 
content  by  mosquitoes  and  punkies,  he  prefers  sleeping  on  a 
good  straw  bed,  and  enjoying  the  comforts  of  civililtion 
where  although  the  fish  are  smaller,  the  streams  are  livelic 
and  clearer,  and  it  requires  finer  tackle  and  greater  skill  to 
take  them. 

There  is  a  specific  difference  between  our  Brook  Trout  and 


198 


AMERICAN    ANGLE  K'S    BOOK. 


the  Common  Trout  {Salmo  fario)  of  Great  Britain.  The 
Brook  Trout  when  taken  in  its  natural  habitat  (the  clear 
rapid  mountain  stream),  is  a  more  symmetrical  fish ;  its  spots 
more  brilliant ;  its  sides  of  a  brighter  silvery  hue ;  its  flesh 
of  finer  flavor,  though  of  lighter  color;  and  its  average 
size  much  smaller.  The  Trout  of  Hamilton  and  Franklin 
Counties,  New  York,  are,  as  a  general  rule,  not  inferior  in  size 
to  the  Trout  of  England ;  their  average  is  larger  than  those 
of  the  ponds  of  Long  Island,  and  about  equal  to  those  taken 
helow  the  ponds,  where  the  fish  have  access  to  salt  water. 

I  cannot  agree  with  Frank  Forester,  that  the  Trout  of  Long 
Island  are  superior  to  those  of  our  inland  brooks  and  rivers; 
on  the  contrary,  I  think  the  pond  Trout  of  Long  Island  much 
inferior  in  delicacy  and  flavor,  though  I  admit,  that  those 
which  have  the  run  of  both  fresh  and  salt  water  are  at  least 
equal  to  those  taken  in  mountain  streams. 

Fish  inhabiting  still,  sluggish  waters,  dams,  and  lakelets, 
are  of  stouter  proportions  than  those  of  rapid,  tumbling 
streams.  The  difference  is  remarked  by  anglers  who  have 
fished  the  waters  of  Hamilton  County ;  those  of  the  lakes 
being  deep  of  body  and  proportionately  short,  while  those 
taken  in  the  outlets  are  longer,  and  afford  more  sport  when 
hooked.  In  some  of  the  ponds  of  Long  Island  they  are 
extremely  stout ;  a  Trout  of  twelve  inches  weighing  a  pound, 
which  is  four  ounces  more  than  one  of  the  same  length  taken 
in  a  mountain  stream  would  weigh. 

I  would  here  say,  from  personal  knowledge  of  the  fish,  that 
the  "  Silver  Trout"  mentioned  by  Frank  Forester  as  being 
taken  in  Green's  Creek,  on  Long  Island,  is  in  every  respect 
the  same  as  those  of  the  neighboring  ponds.  The  lighter 
and  more  pearly  hue  is  to  be  attributed  entirely  to  .the  bright 
open  creek  flowing  through  a  meadow,  unshaded  by  trees, 
and  communicating  directly  with  the  salt  water  of  the  bay. 


THE    SilMON    FAVIir. 


199 


All  observing  anglers  hare  noticed  the  effect  of  water  and 
.gbt  on  the  color  of  Trout ;  those  taken  in  streams  di^lr  d 
rom  having  their  fountains  in  swamps,  or  flowing  through 
boggy  grounds  where  hemlock  and  juniper  trees  grow  are 
nvanabty  dark  .heir  spots  less  brilliant,  and  their  LeTand 
belhes  frequently  blurred;   while  those  of  bright  streams 
flowing  through  open  meadows  or  cultivated  fields,  IZ 
remarkable  for  the  deep  vermilion  of  their  spots,  the  r    g 
-lor  and  delicate  shading.    Anglers  who  hav    fished  th 
lobyhanna  and  Broadhead's  Creek,  in  Pennsylvania   wiU 
^member  the  color  of  the  fish  of  these  two  Lam  ';  ^ 
former  is  boggy  much  shaded,  and  the  water  almost  the  cob 

Ihe  Irou  of  the  former  are  almost  black,  while  th'osc  of  the 
laterarc  ight  of  color,  and  brilliant.  I  have  seen  angll 
who  could  Identify  .he  Trout  belonging  .0  the  difffren^ 

rcrTer     "  ™""'^'  '-''"  ""'  '"™^  ™'  ""^  -'«'■  f- 

Mr.  Brown,  in  his   "American  Angler's  Guide,"  says- 
The  Silver  Trou.  or  Common  Trout  istound  in  almost  '  ,' 
of  our  clear,  swift-running  northern  streams,  and   wllh 
from  one  to  fifteen  pounds.    A  splendid  spedmen  o7  tU 

New  York  Mr.  Brown  was  imposed  on  by  the  person  cm 
w  ose  authority  he  makes  this  statement,  for  they  are 
seldom  If  ever  taken  in  Sullivan  County  above  the  weight  of 
four  pounds.  Nor  does  an  average  eatch  in  that  or  .h 
adjonung  co.unt.es  exceed  four  or  five  ounces;  nor  is  th  e 
any  species  called  the  "Silver  Trout."    The  Black  Troul 

with  clay  bottoms,  ,n  the  roughest  and  wildest  par.  of  our 

T7C  "     r  ""'"°«  """^  ""^  '-^  *-  -^  ordinary 
Brook  Trout  (&W /„„<,„.&),  „Mch,  as  already  stated  be 


200 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


comes  dark  from  inhabiting  water  discolored  by  vegetable 
infusion. 

Frank  Forester's  strictures  on  this  disposition  to  claim  a 
difference  of  species,  on  account  of  local  or  accidental  causes 
producing  a  difference  in  size,  condition,  or  color,  are  entirely 
appropriate,  and  he  had  good  reasons  for  saying  that  the 
"Sea  Trout"  claimed  by  Mr.  Smith  of  Massachusetts  as  a 
new  species,  was  none  other  than  a  well-fed  Brook  Trout 
that  had  access  to  salt  water,  where  its  greater  variety  and 
abundance  of  food  produced  a  brighter  hue  and  deeper- 
colored  flesh. 

Mr.  Brown,  after  quoting  Mr.  Smith's  observations  on  the 

fish  just  referred  to,  says :  "  The  last-mentioned  species,  Le- 

pomis  salmonea,  is  common  in  our  Southern  rivers,  and  with 

many  Southerners  goes  under  the  name  of  Trout  Bass,  or 

Brown  Bass."     Mr.  Brown  here  takes  an  error  of  Mr.  Smith 

as  a  basis,  and  piles  an  error  of  his  own,  or  that  of  his 

informer,  on  top  of  it,  making  "  confusion  worse  confounded." 

Let  me  assure  the  reader  that  the  so-called  "  Southern  Trout" 
•  .... 

is  not  a  Trout,  nor  has  it  the  least  generic  affinity  to  it ;  it  is 

a  fresh-water  Bass,  Orystes  salmoides,  and  belongs  to  the 
Perch  family ;  and  let  me  further  say  that  there  are  no  Trout, 
or  any  species  of  the  Salmon  family,  found  south  of  Virginia. 
Food  of  Trout. — Flies,  beetles,  bugs,  caterpillars,  grass- 
hoppers, in  fact  all  manner  of  insects  that  are  so  unlucky  as 
to  touch  the  surftice  of  the  water,  are  arrested  by  the  vigilant 
Trout ;  and  little  stonefish,  minnows,  and  shiners  are  chased 
and  devoured  by  *hem  at  night,  in  shoal  water.  I  once 
opened  a  Trout  of  eleven  inches,  which  appeared  rather  stout, 
and  took  from  its  pouch  eight  small  shiners,  which  equalled 
nearly  a  fourth  of  its  own  weight.  At  another  time,  in  a 
dark,  still  water,  I  took  a  Trout  of  twelve  inches,  which  had 
nearly  swallowed  a  water-lizard  of  six  inches,  the  head  of  the 


THE    SILHON    FiMILT. 


201 


victim  protruding  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ssh  ■  .^„t  ,      v. 

™  with  the  li^rd,  he  seized  „y  fly      Tte  litt^  ' 

hatched  from  the  e..-  of  the  fl.  l  \    I'     J  ''°™ 

-  she  dapped  on  Zsu^'    Vl         "  ''"  ^'''  '^'"''■ 

the  risk  of  her  life)  is  dev„      /    ."■"'"'  ^""^  <'^P°^''^'»  "' 

io  which,  by  th    !i,  of  •  s     ;  /"'  "'  "'""  """^  °f  -H 
.J  'He  aid  ot  Its  gluten,  it  encases  itself     n»„„ 
the  quantity  of  sand  found  in  a  Trouf.  .,         ,,         ,  ' 

months  of  fly.flshin<r     Th/       I  ^-  '"  ""^  ^'^^ 

ful ;  and  some.tl^s  .  '7f°''''  "  "  «""'  "'«  ™™*- 
«a«e  the  hoo,  he  12^^^:^^  '"  ''^^■'■ 
wings  and  legs  were  cracking  beneathtiX   ""'"  "^  ' 

ci^cHistherise':  's  :tLu::ri  -'"■  "'^^^^'-^ 

too  small  to  be  seen  in  the  di  t  n  „  b  I  f  "  '""  '"'' 
every  still  water,  or  eddy,  or  hu  ry'n '  ift  "  T  '" 
shelving  ed.>es  of  ..  I  "^""8  "ft,  or  under  the 

"o  eages  of  stones,  he  searches  for  larva  diu„.„.  • 

p;e;asitrts;r-:r.:;i:t;i:"^- 

like  rapiditj.  ^  ^"^  iightniiig- 

Concerning  the  disposition  of  Trout  to  rise  at  .  fl      a 

=:»— SHE- »■-.' 

and  found  the  supposed  C  e  L  be  a  r'"'°  "'  "■""'• 
worm  gut  four  or  five  in^s  Ion.  T  """  "'  ^■"^■ 
tackle  on  the  end  of  it     i  dtsln       ^^  "  ^^''^  «'"«" 

.0  ™y  «shing  companit,  bets  ;:  :hi:r''7°f 
^».et  a  ash  had  broken  from\is',Xrt;rr? 


202 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


described  to  him,  three  or  four  daya  before.  He  supposed 
the  fish  to  have  been  at  least  twelve  inches  in  length,  when 
he  lost  his  dropper.  Only  last  summer  a  young  fly- fisher  of 
my  acquaintance  caught  a  Trout  with  a  hook  in  his  mouth, 
to  which  was  fastened  a  gut-leader  two  feet  long,  and  three 
good-sized  shot  on  it,  and  yet  the  fish  rose  greedily  at  his 
red  hackle.  On  returning  to  the  house  and  showing  the 
leader,  it  was  claimed  by  a  bait-fisherman,  who  had  lost  it  the 
day  before. 

Brook  Trout  were  once  abundant  in  all  the  clear,  rapid 
streams  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Alleghanies,  from  the 
Arctic  regions  to  the  thirty-eighth  parallel,  and  even  below 
it  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia ;  in  the  upper  tributaries  of 
the  Ohio,  as  well  as  in  many  of  the  northern  streams  flowing 
into  the  Mississippi ;  also  in  the  smaller  rivers  which  flow 
into  the  great  chain  of  lakes  from  the  north,  and  in  many 
of  those  coming  in  from  the  south.  They  are  taken  fre- 
quently along  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  and  in  the  more 
southern  lakes,  where  creeks  and  brooks  of  a  lower  tem- 
perature than  the  lake  itself  fall  in,  and  in  the  rapids  at  the 
great  outlet  of  Lake  Superior,  known  as  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 
Most  of  the  beautiful  lakelets  of  New  York,  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  and  the  Canadas,  abound  in  Brook  Trout  of 
large  size. 

■  They  are  found  also  in  many  of  the  streams  that  flow  east- 
ward and  southward  from  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  in  the  great 
basin  between  the  latter  range  of  mountains  and  the  Sierra 
Nevada ;  and  are  numerous  in  the  waters  of  the  whole  Pacific 
coast,  as  far  down  as  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  though  per- 
haps with  some  distinction  in  variety,  and,  it  may  be,  in 
species  also. 

In  the  rivers  and  brooks  of  the  more  settled  part  of  the 
country.  Trout  have  decreased  both  in  numbers  and  size. 


THE   SALMON   FAMILY. 


208 


This  is  to  be  attributed  to  many  causes  •  to  t ),«    i      • 
of  forests,  exposing   the  surface  of  I'  ^  o  '  d  toT'  "' 
which  has  dried  up  the  sources  of  svlvan  h'T  '""' 

their  temperature  «nH  .  «*  «y^van  brooks,  or  increased 

tcuiptjraiure,  and  consequently  that  nf  f>,o  i 

which  they  fp.>u  rendprin    .u  ^'*'"S®'*  ^^^^''s 

«/  TPtu,  Tendering  them  less  suitable  for  Tr,.nf        i 

promoting  the  introduction  and  increase  of!  T' 

of  fish.    Streams  which  once  hadlwTsh     "Tn"''" 
them,  now  abound  with  Oh  u      ^      ,  ''"^^^  ^  '^'^*  "» 

.„      ""<^"na  with  Chub  and  other  inferior  fiJi      r^u 

'"■  ^f  "»  "gh  dam  obstructing  the  pig   rf  J; 

--  .attreiti;:tr  tt'",::  r  "'^  "-"-^ 

poisouing   the   Trout    l,n™  7  '    ^"'""8   "   ""'' 

wa.ersi„afaw;er.hr\7°  """•'  '"  '"P''P"""^  °" 

is  a„  old  storyeC™  .1  i    "'""'"'°"  "'  '"'8'--    I' 
-^  cverywnere  along  our  mountain  streams   of 

^..e„at.e3a„dpo:j:r:;t:::ts™"^ 

regions  by  the  whites,  than  they  were  during  tl,«  ,■ 
occupation  by  the  Indian,-  f    ■'."*'^'  ™™«  ">«  "me  of 

toolc  no  more  than  h  u  "■""■  '"*°"S''  >■« 

destructivHL      M   U^"  Tr^  "'  *»  «-■  ™  > 

autu,nna,  desee  I'.h    sZon  the™''  "' -"^  ""^  "^  '"- 

-eor,oop,wer;murous  iZ:":':^  '"^^'""  "^ 

r:i::;r~  -  --  -Srii^^^^^^^^^^ 

"f  large  size     A  frC    to'  "*"  ''™''  '^^°°' 
during  the  summer  TLrtl  °"  "  "'"'*-""^'  '»■•' 

W,cutoutofbr  ;np;rwrf  ":  '"^  '"""'  "' ^ 

"  paper,  with  the  following  memoranda 


804 


AMERICAN    AVQLBR'S    BOOK. 


on  it :— "Taken  by  J.  E.  Oady,  of  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  July  80th 
1858.  Weight  six  and  a  quarter  pounds,  length  twenty-four 
inches,  circumference  thirteen  inches ;  at  the  same  time  took 
seven  Trout  from  the  same  pool  weighing  thirty-one  and  a 
quarter  pounds;  taken  in  Batchewaunaung  River,  Canada 
West."  This  may  appear  improbable,  but  the  gentleman 
who  presented  it,  and  the  captor,  are  both  truthful  men. 

I  have  lately  been  shown  a  letter  which  stated  that  a  party 
of  three  anglers  went  last  summer  from  Chicago  by  rail  and 
boat,  to  the  town  of  Green  Bay,  and  there-  packed  their  lug- 
gage on  mules  and  travelled  a  distance  of  forty  miles  to  a 
stream  not  over  twenty  feet  wide,  within  twelve  miles  of 
Lake  Superior.  They  fished  two  pools  where  there  was 
neither  tree  nor  bush  to  interfere  with  their  fly-cast,  and 
during  their  stay  of  ten  days,  each  of  them  killed  from  fifty 
to  a  hundred  pounds  of  Trout  per  day ;  the  fish  weighing 
from  two  to  four  pounds  each.  In  the  state  of  Maine,  Lake 
Umbagog  and  Moosehead  Lake  have  great  reputation.  The 
tributaries  of  the  St.  John  and  Mirimichi  have  many  and 
large  Trout ;  and  from  all  accounts  they  fairly  swarm  in  Lake 
Nipissiguit,  at  the  head  of  the  river  of  that  name,  in  the 
British  Province  of  New  Brunswick. 

Mr.  B.,  an  angier  of  this  city,  a  few  years  ago,  brought  home 
from  Maine,  where  he  had  been  on  a  fishing  excursion,  the 
skin  of  a  Trout,  which  he  has  since  had  stuffed ;  the  weight 
of  the  fish  exceeded  eigh*  pounds. 

The  following  was  clipped  from  the  "Saturday  Evening 
Post"  last  summer,  and  handed  to  me  by  a  friend : — 

"  Enormous  Trout. — Mr.  George  S.  Page,  of  the  firm  of 
GecTge  S.  Page  &  Brother,  of  this  city,  has  shown  us  a  basket 
of  Trout,  caiight — he  says  it  does  not  matter  where,  and  he 
would  rather  not  disclose  the  precise  locality — but  which  are 
by  far  the  largest  of  their  kind  we  have  ever  seen.  In  the 
basket  before  us  the  heaviest  fish  weighs  eight  pounds  and 


TIIK    SALMOM    FAMUV. 


206 


■l-receigMh.,,.  another  weighs  eight  pounds  and  a  quarter- 
and    another,  seven  and  a  quarter  pounds.      Two  oth    J 

P^sent  n>onth     In  e  i't    av^T  '"     ,"  """  >""  ""  "•<" 
r  m  eigtit  (lays  thoy  caught  two  hundred  and 

seventy,  hree  pounds,  steelyard  weight,  and  the  flsh  oau'ht 
averaged  three  and  a  half  pounds  eaeh.  * 

"Mr.  Page  desires  us  to  «,y  that  all  these  fish  were  eaueht 

JL!^  T:z  'T: '":  ^'-  r^  «^- " '- 

n   mamo,   they  may  have  been  the  Schoodi,. 

Trou,  &,„.  ff,„^.    One  who  ;,  „„.  „eeustomed  to  „ ark 

r       ^'*'--»'  "V  easily  have  been  de«,ived  Z!h 

there  are  some  .nstanees  of  Brook  Trout  exceeding   1  "he 

size  of  the  Sohoodio  Trout. 

Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  in  his  "Salmonia,"  gives  the  read., 
.he  .mpression  that  in  strictly  preserved  streLT  „  En^^' 

the  water.  Th,s  ,s  by  no  means  a  general  rule.  Last  sum 
me,  n,  looking  over  an  English  angler's  fly.book  w  A  Z 
he  produced  h,s  written  authority,  signed  by  the  stewardTf' 
-me  nobleman,  I  think  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  "fll 
a  certain  water.  The  p,per  specified  that  the  ca"h  If  1! 
angler  should  at  any  time  be  subject  to  the  ins^e  L  :  tL 
^mekeeper  and  that  he  should  basket  no  m  nnde  /I 


2U« 


AMBRIOAM    ANQLKR'B    BOOK. 


THE  SALMON. 

Salmotalar:  LiitHMva. 

This  magnificent  fish  has  been  the  exalted  theme  of  all 
writers  on  angling,  from  the  time  of  Walton  to  the  present. 
It  is  said  that  two  or  three  varieties  of  the  true  Salmon  are 
found  on  the  eastern  coast  of  America,  while  there  are  several 
described  as  distinct  species  by  Dr.  Richardson,  in  his 
"  Fauna  Boreali- Americana,"  existing  in  the  Arctic  regions, 
and  as  many  more  mentioned  by  Dr.  George  Suckley,  U.  S.  A., 
in  his  report  upon  the  fishes  of  the  Pacific  coast. 

The  economic  value  of  the  Salmon  has  been  the  cause  of 
much  legislation  in  Great  Britain  and  her  American  colo- 
nies ;  and  its  habits  and  manner  of  breeding,  together  with 
the  growth  of  its  young,  and  its  wonderful  increase  in  size, 
caused  by  periodical  visits  to  tlie  sea,  have  been  the  subject 
of  much  discussion  and  voluminous  essays  amongst  natu- 
ralists and  observers. 

As  abundant  as  Salmon  once  were  in  the  waters  of  the 
United  States,  they  are  now  only  found  in  two  or  three  of  the 
rivers  of  Maine,  and  these  furnish  but  a  small  number  to  net- 
fishers  in  tide- water:  a  few  years  more  and  they  will  bo 
known  amongst  us  only  by  tradition  and  in  books.  Salmon 
once  abounded  in  all  of  our  rivers  from  Maine  to  New  York, 
but,  if  we  except  a  few  stray  Salmon  which  have  been  taken 
in  the  Delaware,  were  never  found  south  of  the  Hudson,  not- 
withstanding Mr.  Thackeray,  in  his  book  "  The  Virginians," 
makes  General  Braddock,  Washington,  and  Franklin  dine  on 
Shad  and  Salmon  at  Lady  Warrington's  table  in  lower  Vir- 
ginia. 


.^p-. 


of  all 

•resent, 
on  are 
several 
in  his 
egions, 
.  S.  A., 

luse  of 
1  colo- 
3r  with 
n  size, 
subject 
;  natU' 

of  the 
J  of  the 
to  net- 
vill  be 
Salmon 
York, 
taken 
)n,  not- 
nians," 
line  on 
Br  Vir- 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


207 


Hendnck  Hudson,  when  he  first  ascended  the  river  that 
bears  his  name,  recorded  in  his  journal,   "many  Salmon, 
Mullets,  and  Rays  very  great ;"  and  when  he  passed  the  High- 
lands remarks :  "  Great  stores  of  Salmon  in  the  river  "    Thev 
were  formerly  abundant  in  all  the  lakes  in  the  interior  o^ 
JNew  York,  that  communicate  with  Lake  Ontario,  and  were 
also  found  in  Lake  Champlain  and  the  rivers  flowing  into  the 
St.  Lawrence,  from  the  south.    Stories  have  been  handed 
down  of  the  great  numbers  once  taken  in  the  Connecticut  and 
It  IS  said  of  old  dwellers  on  its  banks,  that  in  their  articles  of 
indenture,  it  was  stipulated  that  the  master  should  not  feed 
his  apprentice  on  Salmon  more  than  three  days  in  the  week 

The  only  fresh  Salmon  we  get  now,  come  from  Montreal, 
and  from  St.  John,  New  Brunswick:   from   the  latter  by 
steamer  to  Boston,  packed  in  ice,  where  they  are  repacked 
and  sent  to  cities  further  south.     At  Chatham  Bathurst  and 
several  other  ports  of  the  British  Provinces,  there  are  e'stab- 
hshments  where  they  are  parboiled  after  being  cut  into  pieces 
of  suitable  size,  and  packed  in  hermetically  sealed  cans,  and 
shipped  to  Europe  and  the  United  States.     The  smoked  and 
salted  Salmon  generally  come  from  points  further  north 

The  rivers  which  flow  into  the  St.  Lawrence  from  the  north 
below  Quebec,  and  those  that  empty  into  the  Gulf  of  St 
Lawrence,  and  into  the  Atlantic  along  the  coast  of  Labrador,'     " 
still  furnish  rare  sport  to  the  angler  who  will  undertake  the 
journey.     In  the  more  southern  portions  of  those  regions 
every  means,  fair  or  foul,  of  taking  them  is  practised,  withoui  / 
a  thought  for  the  continu.  nee  of  tue  species ;  as  if  extermina- 
tion was  the  present  and  ultimate  object 

The  streams  of  California  connecting  with  the  ocean,  from 
the  thirty-seventh  degree  of  latitude  northward,  and  the 
nvers  of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory,  aa  well  as  those 


208 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  the  British  and  Eussian  possessions,  contain  them  in  vast 
numbers. 

Dr.  Suckley,  in  his  report  on  the  fishes  collected  on  the 
Pacific  Railroad  Survey,  says,  in  that  part  of  it  devoted  to 
the  Salmonidae  of  the  North- West  Coast:  "The  species  of 
Salmon  which  is  principally  used  for  salting  in  Puget  Sound, 
is  the  Skowitz,  an  autumnal  visitor.  Of  these  Messrs.  Riley 
&  Swan,  proprietors  of  the  Salmon-packing  establishment  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Puyallup  River,  have  taken  three  thousand 
at  one  haul  of  the  seine."  Fisheries,  I  am  told,  have  been 
established  on  the  Eel  and  Russian  Rivers  of  California,  but 
owing  to  the  lack  of  practical  knowledge  in  preserving  the 
fish,  they  have  not  proved  remunerative.  It  is  said,  that 
notwithstanding  the  great  numbers  of  Salmon  in  the  rivers 
of  our  North-West  Coast,  where  they  collect  in  great  shoals 
at  the  falls,  and  rub  their  noses  raw  in  their  efforts  to 
get  up  the  rapids,  and  where  a  spear  thrown  at  random  strikes 
a  fish,  that  they  are  never  known  to  take  the  fly.  This  may 
be  for  the  want  of  the  proper  kinds  of  pools  that  make  a  fly- 
cast  ;  there  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  it  will  yet  be  found, 
that  there  are  casts  on  some  of  those  rivers  where  a  proper 
combination  of  fur  and  feathers  will  entice  them 

If  we  believe  the  tales  of  explorers — and  they  soem  probable 
— there  are  whole  tribes  of  Indians  on  the  Pacific,  as  well  as 
on  the  rivers  that  flow  into  the  Arctic  Ocean,  from  Macken- 
zie's River  eastward,  and  into  Hudson's  Bay,  who  would 
become  extinct  but  for  the  periodical  appearance  of  almost 
incredible  numbers  of  these  fish.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
rhey  arc  the  chief  food,  for  a  great  part  of  the  year,  of  the 
tribes  that  dwell  on  the  rivers  that  debouch  into  Baffin's 
Bay,  Davis's  Strait,  and  the  streams  on  the  coast  of  Labrador, 
and  that  such  is  also  the  case  to  a  great  extent  with  the 
barbaric  tribes  of  northern  Asia  above  the  sixtieth  parallel, 


»BE    SALMON-    FAMILY. 


2W 


and  .he  rude  population  of  the  extreme  north  of  Europe  ■  i„r 

the  geographical  range  of  this  omlifi^  fi  i,  ^^""I* ,  H.r 

human  race,  extends  from  the  No   h  P    '  T  "  '"  ''" 

mies  of  the  globe  (excen     „  downwards  on  all 

isothermal  lite  be  r^ndl  n"  Z  '"^  "'"""  ^'''"'  *« 
parallel,  and  in  some  ca"f ^  ZclT^'  '"  "°  '"'''■''''' 
below  it.  '        "  *^^''''"'»"'  "■"!  J"!'"",  even 

Mr.  Kiohard  Nettle,  of  Montreal    in   l- 
little  work  "The  S,ln,        .*"";<"»'■  ">  his  comprehensive 

its  Tributaries    say   7„:t'""  "'  ""*  "'^  ^""^^  -" 
.he  mother  cou„.r71    ""'"°"  '"  "-^  Salmon-iisheries  of 

tio:,t;.:^tr:::h'"rrl^r  -  ™'" — 
with  hoo,  with  ieis.er;p:iin,tn:n„:*  ^''"'' 

--g  dams  and  thlltTar^S:-"-^^ 

— r^rrrnrr-Tr'^'-^'- 
theiroid  haun.s-.heir  s™:  ni  d  t    ■"  '""'  '"«""« 

'ha.  i.  -i.hdiffl„uit,i,a; : ;  ;tr"Go7r 

-.and  a  Hght  of  wa,  ma,  induce  themwturn    '  '""' 

Before  the  year  1812,  and  even  in  1816  aim™. 

nver  in  the  kingdom  swarmed  wi.h  fish  ■  wit„:         f  "'^' 
.he  Tweed  ^-.h  its  150.000  Salmon  tt'a     nil  ^ 'ri"' 
per  annum,  the  Tay,  a  similar  river,  the  D  vel    ,f  p    d 
horn  the  Don,  the  Spey,  and  numerous  otherl  "'• 

»-  season,    ^'umero'^t^h    ;  a":;:' o  te  ^'^^ ^'  '" 
Kmerald  Isle."  ^®  ^°""d  in  the 

j^  Adamsoa,  m  his  appendix  to  his  "Salmon. 


210 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Fishing  in  Canada,"  and  other  writers,  speak  also  of  the 
former  abundance  of  Salmon  in  the  Canadas.  Mr.  Nettle 
says,  "  The  late  Robert  Christie,  so  many  years  the  member 
for  Gasp4  and  by  whom  I  have  been  urged  to  do  battle  in 
behalf  of  the  Salmon-fisheries,  has  often  told  me,  that  while 
he  resided  there  he  never  took  less  than  2000  tierces  in  the 

Ristigouche  alone Bouchet,  in  speaking  of  the  same 

river,  says  2000  to  3000  are  taken What  would  that 

gentleman  say,  could  he  know  that  the  2000  or  8000  of  his 
day  has  dwindled  down  to  200  or  300  at  the  present  time?" 

Our  own  countrymen,  in  their  everlasting  search  after 
"  that  other  dollar,"  after  having  destroyed  their  own  Salmon- 
lisherios,  are  now  prompting  and  assisting  the  illegal  fishers 
of  Canada  in  doing  the  same,  by  establishing  packing-houses 
for  the  exportation  of  smoked,  pickled,  and  "canned"  Salmon. 
Setting  a  price  on  the  head  of  every  fish  of  this  species  that 
fiiids  its  way  up  the  rivers,  after  escaping  the  gill-nets  that 
drift  out  even  beyond  the  entrance  of  the  bays  and  estuaries, 
and  iho  stake-nets  that  extend  beyond  the  prescribed  distance 
from  the  shore,  by  paying  the  mongrel  Indians  four  or  five 
cents  a  pound  for  all  the  Salmon  they  spear  at  night. 

It  is  claimed  with  some  show  of  justice  that  the  Indians 
have  an  hereditary  right  to  the  use  of  the  flambeau  and 
spear — it  is  the  only  way  in  which  they  take  Salmon ;  but 
this  is  no  reason  why  they  should  be  permitted  to  practise  it 
at  improper  seasons  of  the  year,  for  the  injury  they  do  to  the 
rivers  is  visited  upon  themselves  as  well  as  the  whites,  by 
the  gradMl  extirpation  of  the  fish. 

A  few  >ears  back,  and  there  Avas  scarcely  a  stream  of  any 
size  on  the  coast  of  New  Brunswick,  that  was  not  visited 
annually  by  large  numbers  of  Salmon,  and  still  are  to  a 
limited  extent;  but  the  drift-net,  the  stake-net,  the  spear, 
and  the  high  dams — witliont  a  sluiceway  to  help  them  over, 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 

A  1.1 

are  steadily  d„»g  .heir  work  of  destruction,  and  unless  mor, 
stringent  laws  are  enacted  for  the  protection  „f  -i  1 

nvers  of  the  British  provinces  will,  in  the  conrse  of  a  few 
years,  become  as  barren  as  our  own 

ofatTrrrarsT-r/"''"^^"="  '^  »  '■-"^P"- 

Nipissiguit  las?".-™'       ^""^^■"  ^"""'^  """"^  »  «=" 

.nrShtrbrrthit  rr  r  "-^7  --' 

-er.gra,;be.,;':c^-:r::r^^^^^^^^ 
:r  zr eihTiai:::,  r  r  t^'  ^^^-"-" - 

The  brilliancy  of  a  Ch  rurfl  h        ""  '""'  """"  '?='"• 

^-„g  iuL  3un,i;r,::etrn:h:;xra;t  r 
:X^r:e.o:^rpe::,;rr.■^-^^^^^^ 

length,  exclusive  of  the  caudV  t  J  of"?  T''""'"  °'  "^ 
-re  than  a  «fth,  while  I'le^"  ;:X  V  ■,""""""^ 
more  than  a  sixth.    The  lateral  li  "  ""' 

Sal^onoids.  There  are  twel  V,  ,"  °'°'''  °^  '"  ""  *« 
«n,  which  has  t,  "e  n  :;  7  """""f'  "•^'-  '^'^  P-'"»' 
",V  black;  ventrlgr  Xh  wtir^^f "^'  "''^  *^  <■- 
roseate  white,  with  nine  ravs-  d„  ,  J  ,  "'"'  '"y^'  '"'■■'' 
•«'ve  rays;  the  caudaT irSk'  7  'l  T!"  """•  """ 
exclusive  of  the  rudimentary  fays  '      '  ''"  "="■"""■ 

There  is  a  cartilaginous  projection  on  the  tip  oi  the  lower 


212 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


jaw  in  the  male  fish,  which  closes  into  a  cavity  in  the  snoat . 
it  becomes  harder  and  longer,  and  has  more  of  an  im  ard 
curve,  as  the  time  of  spawning  approaches :  it  is  suppo^  ,d  by 
some  persons,  that  it  is  used  by  the  fish  in  removir  ^  the 
gravel  when  preparing  the  spawning-bed  in  autumn.  The 
eye  is  one-third  distant  between  the  snout  and  posterior 
margin  of  the  opercle.  There  are  sharp  but  short  incurved 
teeth  on  the  palate,  maxillaries,  pharynx,  and  tongue,  but 
none  that  I  could  discover  on  the  vomer. 

The  artificial  propagation  of  Salmon  has  been  resorted  to 
in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  nurseries  for  this  purpose  have 
been  successfully  established  on  rivers  which  had  been  depleted 
of  the  vast  numbers  they  once  produced.  As  the  reader  will 
find  a  chapter  on  Pisciculture  in  a  subsequent  part  of  this 
work,  I  will  make  no  further  mention  here  of  that  mode  of 
producing  them — or  rather  of  assisting,  or  stimulating  their 
production;  but  would  remark,  that  if  the  waters  of  Great 
Britain  are  ever  restored  to  their  former  fecundity,  or  our 
own  restocked,  it  must  be  one  of  the  means  employed. 

The  Natural  Process  of  Propagation. — To  give  a 
lucid  description  of  the  manner  of  generation  with  the 
Salmon,  it  is  necessary  to  advert  to  one  of  its  specific 
peculiarities,  which  is,  that  it  is  anadromom.  This  term  is 
commonly  applied  to  fish  which  inhabit  the  sea  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  but  enter  fresh  rivers  to  spawn ;  a  residence 
of  a  certain  length  of  time  in  fresh  water  being  necessary  to 
mature  the  spawn  and  milt,  Salmon,  as  a  general  thing, 
begin  to  ascend  the  rivers  on  the  north-eastern  coast  of 
America  the  latter  part  of  June,  and  there  will  be  an  occa- 
sional run  of  fish  from  the  sea  until  the  middle  of  September, 
each  school  being  influenced  to  some  extent  in  their  migra- 
tion by  easterly  gales  or  a  rise  in  the  rivers  they  enter.  The 
first  run  of  Grilse  does  not  occur  until  a  month  later,  and  the 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


213 

rapid,  and  oC.ect  fo.'  tl  '/u^:  H;  ^^  ''7,  """'^  -U 
•he  tributaries  of  the  rivers  bvTh'  ",.,  T"""  ™'^ '" 
•He  spawning  season,  in^:  of'  el™:.  "'  """""''■*  "' 
months,  as  it  does  in  S.„,l     1  u      '""''"'8  "er  a  period  of  six 

forb,t;e.ast:;;ot:^:^t:tr™"^^-'"-^-^'. 

bv  iee,  and  the  spawnin.  b*  sea  7  "  "r™"^  "'°'"' 
influence  of  the  L,  and"™'*  I  ri?  *?"""""« 
.0  the  bottom  by  the  .niddie  of  D  e^  7"  Tr" 
therefore  is,  that  incubation  is  a-Te  "d    1  T         "^ 

spa™  being  encased  in  ice-  so  it  fT  t  "'""'"  ''^  ""* 
period  (perhaps  even  doX;  thj  t/m  7'  ''  '  "'""''  '™«"^ 
to  hatch,  than  is  necessarv  in  ,.,  '  ""^""'^  '"'  ""^  °'^ 
land  and  Ireland      tT  "''"P'^«"e  waters  of  Scot- 

u  Ireland.     I  have  never  read   or  heard  of  . 
person  havmg  tested  it  in  America  hv  ^ 

been  done  in  Scotland,  but  it    sTrobabr:hT°''  "  T 
posited  in  American  Salmon  rivers  tc„  o     T™  '" 

November,  does  not  produce  the  younithun«:       "'  '"  " 
month  of  June  or  July.   But  it  i/Z,  ,,  '  ™'""8 

that  the  general  rule  L  fhe  t  me  of    "''b  '"'  ""'  '°  ^''"" 

by  Scotch  naturalists  and  oW,  It  nTV^bf"""'' 

rx:r?n---  ^S  o?  1:!: 

-tin.  .  .o».ve,...X::7„  :-- -  ;--..  an. 
B.i.,.h  Amerio.  being  ice-b„„„d  four  „-  ive  month       !I'  '"  °' 

.f  -ming  .„,  ^i.,  i,  „„,^,  ^  .^^^  «•;  2:2.  ■'  *"  '•"•  '-  '™ 


214 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


laws  of  nature  that  goven^  Salmon,  in  generating  as  well  as 
the  process  of  incubation  and  growth  of  its  young. 

Those  who  take  an  interest  in  the  subject,  will  refer  with 
pleasure  and  profit  to  the  "  Book  of  the  Salmon,"  by  a  Mr. 
Graham,  who  wrote  articles  on  angling  for  "Bell's  Life  in 
London,"  for  many  years,  and  who  also,  with  the  sou'uriqiiet 
of  "  Ephemera,"  was  the  author  of  "  A  Handbook  of  Angling." 
He  was  assisted  in  his  "  Book  of  the  Salmon,"  by  Mr.  Andrew. 
Young,  of  Invershin,  Scotland,  the  manager  of  the  Duke  of 
Sutherland's  northern  fisheries,  who  had  been  an  experi- 
menter on  Salmon  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Part  of  the 
information  imparted  by  Mr.  Young  was  in  writinc^,  and 
much  was  communicated  orally,  whenever  Mr.  Graham  visited 
him  for  the  purpose  of  angling,  and  observing  the  habits  of 
the  Salmon.  In  the  following  pages,  I  will  endeavor  to  give 
the  gist  of  Mr.  Graham's  remarks,  or  quote  them  verbatim  as 
may  best  suit  the  purpose. 

"Salmon  preparin(/  to  s-paum. — The  male  and  female  Salmon 
appear  together  on  that  part  of  a  shallow  in  which  their  bed 
is  to  be  dug,  and  they  remain  moving  about  upon  it  for  a  few 
days  before  they  begin  the  process  of  nidification.  No  pre- 
cise period  can  be  fixed  for  their  appearance.  Salmon  spawn- 
ing-beds are  made  by  the  fish  in  sandy  or  gravelly  parts  of 
the  river,  generally  high  up  towards  its  source,  and  not  unfre- 
oii.entlyiu  rivers  and  almost  rivulets,*  tributaries  to  some 
large  river,  of  course  connected  with  the  sea.  Before  two 
Salmon,  male  and  female,  commence  the  formation  ui  their 
nests,  they  make  eflbrts  to  drive  away  every  fish  that  may 


*  This  was  the  case  last  fall  in  Pabineau  and  Gordon's  Brooks,  botli 
email  trihutaries  of  the  Nipissiguit:  the  outlet  of  the  latter  is  over  a 
gravelly  shoal,  and  so  small  that  Salmon  cannot  ascend  through  the  outlet 
to  the  deeper  water  above,  unless  with  the  assistance  of  a  freshet.  Yet 
they  were  found  there  in  largo  numbers  depositing  their  spawn. 


THK    SALMOX    FAMILY. 


215 


come  within  their  vioim'fv     rpi 

be  called  a  .ontLaZtf  „!  ;  ""'"'■"«•''«''.  -l-ich  „,ay 

ver.„  o.  a„™. .::  11  c  'b'urr  t"'"""^'  '^"^ 

chosen  their  ground  for  bed  „„i,  ,  ,        ^"""^  '^"'^' 

»,  .hey  drop'dow  "     r^t::  X"'  "71 -"^^  '"^ 

burrowing  action,  assisted  by  the  power  of  tblf 

formed  with  great  force  and  ,>,       !?  ''°'' "'  P*'" 

upper  part  or  roof  of  ttl  '  "'"""  '"'''''8'  *« 

™ig^rooe:r:iiT:r:  irr-  :'''"'■ 

p%  capacious  for  a  «.t  d:  LL  r/r  T^f 
female  enters  this  first  hollowed  link  of  ,1     v,  I       , 
.herein  a  portion  of  her  ovl     TW  A  .   '  "''  "^'P™"^ 

*cam,  and  the  male  instant^' Jet.  I""  J" '^^'.  '"-" 

emission,  a  certain  quantity  of  m  It  ol'T  "I   ''°"'"*' '^ 
impregnates  them.    After^hTs  ThtM  '"'""'''  °™' 

excavation,  immediately  bJtefl^IaT"'""  "  '"""" 
with  it.   I,,  making  ,J  '   ^  '°  "  '"'"«'"  "■>« 

waen  one  rh^r;:::r  r  ^k  T  z?  r^'t' 

stream  until  it  is  refreshed  and  ,u  .        ^    °"  ""o 

resumes  its  labor,  rlti^    he"' "       ""™'^'' ''"''"■ 
The  partner  acts  i„    t  '"""  '"""  ''»  P"«»er. 

projsses;;r:,tr:  ";::i:"V;r'  "^^ 

.he  female  enters  it  as  she  dTd  the  fi  T  °°'"P'''^'*' 

ponion  of  ova,  and  drops":, ::;ed':wtirt""V 

«M^%  V  .he  acti:,:  :;i  u  reT  Tbtr::;:'' '-'-  "■ 

just  described  is  continued  until  the  ,    ','^f"™"°8  P"^^ 

-eposit.  The  last  depirofrrrvriXz 


216 


AHBRIOAN    ANOLER'8    BOOK 


action  of  tho  fish  and  water  breaking  down  aorne  of  the  gravel 
bank  above  and  over  the  nest.  'J'hus  is  formed  a  complete 
spawning  bed— not  at  once,  not  by  a  single  effort,  but  piece- 
meal, and  at  several  intervals  of  greater  or  less  duration, 
according  to  the  age  and  size  of  the  fish,  and  quantity  of  ova 
and  milt  to  be  deposited  and  emitted.  A  female  Salmon  in 
its  third  year  has  a  larger  quantity  of  ova  to  deposit  than  a 
female  Grilse,  or  young  Salmon  in  its  second  year ;  and  it 
may  bo  taken  for  granted,  that  the  older  and  larger  either 
figh_male  or  female— is,  the  greater  quantity  of  ova  to  be 
deposited,  and  of  milt  to  be  emitted.  In  consequence,  the 
time  occupied  in  deposition  chiefiy  depends  upon  the  size  and 
fecundity  of  the  female  fish.  The  average  time  is  from  five 
to  ten  days.  It  would  be  more  correct  to  say  the  mean  time 
lies  betwixt. 

"When  the  spawning  operations — I  am  describing  those 
of  a  single  pair  of  Salmon — are  terminated,  the  female  fish, 
with  instinctive  view  to  repose  and  convalescence,  falls  back 
into  some  pool  below  the  spawning-bed  just  completed,  and 
sown  with  Salmon-seed.  The  male  frequently  follows  her 
example,  sometimes  from  two  motives :  1st,  to  consort  with 
another  female,  if  he  have  any  milt  remaining ;  2d,  if  he  have 
not,  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  from  the  debilitating  effects 
of  s})awning.  A  male  Salmon  may  impregnate  the  ova  of  one 
or  more  Salmon.  A  mature  male  Salmon  has  milt  enough 
to  impregnate  the  ova  of  several  Grilse,  or  young  Salmon; 
and  he  will  continue  the  operation  of  impregnation  as  long  as 
the  seminal  fluid  lasts.  If,  in  the  first  instance,  a  female 
choose  a  mate  unable  to  fecundate  all  her  ova,  sho  will,  when 
his  milt  is  exhausted,  go  in  search  of  another,  and  will  be  a 
bigamist  or  polygamist,  as  long  as  nature,  or  (as  phrenologists 
would  say)  philo-progenitiveness,  compels  her  to  be  so.  The 
length  of  a  spawning-bed  depends  upon  the  quantity  of  spawn 


THE    SALMON    FilMItT. 


217 


.0  be  deported  therem,  and  aUo  upon  .he  hardness  or  softness 
of  .ho  gravel  which  has  .o  be  exeava.ed.    The  harder  .he 
gravehbed,  the  shorter  .he  spawning.bed,  for  .hen  .he  sneees- 
sion  of  „es.s  w,l    be  more  co,„p„„.,  and  .ake  up  ,esa  spaee 
whe.her  in  length  or  width.  '^     ' 

"A  'ingle  pair  of  Salmon  may  be  forced  to  form  distinct 
beds,  .„  different  spots.    For  instance,  the,  have  e:     e  c"d 
spawning  m  a  stream  two  feet  in  depth  more  or  loss,  and 
whilst  so  engaged,  the  river  falls  so  low,  that  the,  „  nn". 
continue  to  work  m  the  flrst  selected  spot,  for  want  of  water 
wherein  freely  to  move.     When  this  happens  they  will  drop 
lower  down,  or  at  any  rate  retire  elsewhere,  in  search  of 
deeper  running  water.    Other  causes  may  induce  them,  ..  „. 
floods,  to  have  recourse  to  the  formation  of  a  second  be,l,  in  a 
spot  suited  for  it. 

"  Thinking  as  I  do  the  layinLr  and  imDre^rnnHnc,  . 
.P  and  hatching  of  SalmoLLs-I  r^XTXp^ 
posely-most  interesting  points  in  the  history  of  our  Hiver- 
k.ng,  I  will  not,  if  I  ean,  leave  anything  connected  with 
hem  untouched.     When  I  do  not  state  facts,  I  will  brin. 
forward  deductions,  and,  as  it  were,  circumstantial  evidence" 
as  convincing  to  the  reasoning  mind  as  fact  itself     We 
have  seen  that  the  bed,  or  trench,  in  which  Salmon  dcposi 
.heir  spawn,  is  made  bit  by  bit,  and  no  doubt  the  inouirl 
eader  will  ask  why?     I  have,  I  hope,  a  ready  and      t L 
fac  ory  answer^   The  ova  of  the  female  Salmon  are     o." 
mature  all  at  the  same  time.    That  portion  of  them  ne"    he 
vent  becomes  flrst  ripe  for  deposition,  whilst  the  pa,  t 
po.  oral  regions  is  immature.     In  consequence,  the  ova  1 
be  deposited  by  piecemeal  only,  and  that  is  one  of  the  chfef 
reasons  why  the  Salmon-bcd  consists  of  a  succession  o     xl 
various,  the  first  for  the  reception  of  the  ova  next  the  "em 
which  are  already  matuie ;  the  second  for  the  ova  that  ^ 


ai8 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


jW 


I 


become  next  the  vent  and  matured  in  four-and-tventy  hours, 
perhaps,  and  so  on  for  several  days  until  all  the  ej^gs  tbrming 
what  is  called  the  'hard  roe'  are  ripe  and  fit  to  be  laid.  On 
this  point  the  common  hen,  and  other  birds,  afford  an  analogy 
They  deposit  their  eggs  at  intervals,  as  their  outward  cover 
ing  or  shells  harden,  that  is,  as  they  become  mature.  The 
analogy  extends  no  further.  Birds'  eggs  are  impregnated 
before  they  are  deposited  ;  Salmons'  eggs  are  not ;  birds'  eggs 
naturally  require  animal  heat  to  vivify  them,  Salmons'  eggs 
never  do.  The  analogy,  therefore,  applies  only  to  deposition 
or  laying  at  intervals. 

"Let  any  one  examine  the  roe  of  a  female  Salmon  about 
spawning-time,  and  the  peas,  grains,  or  eggs  of  that  part  of  it 
nearest  the  vent  will  always  be  found  of  larger  size,  and 
softer  than  those  situated  higher  up  in  the  stomach  of  the 
fish.  They  are  softer  also,  and  their  outward  ti laments  are 
thinner  and  more  porous,  and  thus  they  are  fitter  for  impreg- 
nation— for  absorbing  the  milt  of  the  male  as  it  is  poured 
over  them.  There  is  another  reason  why  all  the  ova  cannot 
be  deposited  at  once.  It  is  forced  from  the  fish,  or  rather  the 
fish  forces  it  from  itself  by  pressure — by  forcing  itself  into 
the  gravel  of  the  nest.  No  natural  pressure  would  be  suffi- 
cient to  expel  the  ova  at  once.  When  artificial  pressure  is 
employed — I  mean  manual  pressure — the  mature  ova  alone 
come  freely  away  through  the  vent ;  the  immature  ova  remain 
firmly  enclosed  within  thuir  reticulated  tissues  or  membranes, 
within,  as  it  were,  their  net-work  fastenings.  Although  the 
nuripe  ova  should  be  expressed,  they  would  be  useless  for 
production,  for  their  absorbing  pores  are  still  closed  ;igainst 
the  interpenetration  of  the  milt,  and  conseijuently  in  this  state 
impregnation  is  impos.sible.  The  milt  of  the  male,  like  the 
ova  of  the  female  fish,  becomes  mature  by  degrees.  When 
mature  they  are  very  easily  exuded,  for  even  holding      i  the 


THE    SAt.Mi   X-    FAMILI. 


219 


fi»h  by  ho  head,  will  oau,«  M,nitea  exudation  of  milt  an.l 
"vn.  n,„  ,,rea,ure,  or  weight  of  lh„  roe  above  „„  the  roe 
be,.c.Uh  >»  „uffl„i„„.  to  pro,luoe  this  partial  exudation. 

•The  f.„.,„a,ed  in  „,„  ,,,„eedi„g  paragraph  are  suffleiont 
no  only  to  account  for  i.nprcgnution  taking  place  at  inter. 
V.  ,,  for  t  ,„  „„p„,,,iW|i,,  „f  ;.,  ^i„g  j^^^  ^^ 

but  al.,o  for  the  .n.probability  of  impregnation  by  intermit: 

ova.    Mr.  Voung  ,h,„pa,c,,  „„  ,,o„bt.  upon  this  point  by 

the  ollow.ng  experiments  .-lie  took  a  female  Salnl  exu 
d«l  by  n^n,p,.l„tio„  a  p„r.i„„  „f  ,,„  ,„„,  „„j  ■ 

done  so  he  buned  it  beneath  the  gravel  of  one  part  of  a' 
a«.fi.  .»l  .spawntng.pond.  From  the  .u„„  Saln.on  he  exuded 
•nother  port.on  of  ova,  bnt  before  he  eovere,,  it  over  w  h 

aidTb  """"'"  r '™ "'  '"■^  ''^"™"«-'>«'-  •>=  i-P-^ 

natad  ,t  by  press.ng  m,lt  fro.n  the  male  Salmon,  and  causing 
.t  lo  come  m  contact  with  the  last  ova  deposited.  He  then 
covered  them  in  beneath  the  gravel,  and  ■  ,  .,,  ,„  *  " 
Fodneedflsh.  The  ova  he  had  covered  in  without  i.nprj 
na.,o„  prodncd  nothing.  He  ^p«.„,,  ,he  experiment  fr! 
quen  ly,  and  always  with  similar  .-esults.  He  Z  JnJZ 
wo  female  Salmon  in  the  act  „f  spawning.    The  ova  o^o 

he  d  d  not  .mpregnate.     He  covered  in  each  under  ecual 

condtfons  .part  in  the  .s e  spawning-bed.    The  ova  hit  h       ■ 

had  caused  to  be  impregnated  were  productive-  the  1' 
proved  perfectly  barren.    This  experinL.  was  repel U 
the  result  was  ever  the  san.e.  ' 

"It  may  be  asked,  how  i,  it  that  ova  and  milt  are  not 
.wept  away  by  the  action  of  the  rapid  water  in  which  thev 
T  '•^'"^■'"J-"""  theyare  not  swept  away  in  the    et  of 

g-vel?     It  would  appear  that  at  the  critical  moment  of 


220 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


deposition,  the  specific  gravity  of  the  water  is  less  than  tbat 
of  the  mature  spawn,  for  the  gi'ains  of  ova  fall  to  the  bottom 
like  grains  of  shot,  and  the  milt  sinks  as  if  it  were  molten 
lead.  However,  we  must  take  into  account  the  effect  of  the 
force  by  ^vhich  ova  and  milt  are  expelled  downwards  by  the 
spawning  fish. 

'  As  some  of  the  ova  are  deposited  and  impregnated  ten  or 
more  days  sooner  than  otlier  portions,  we  must  expect  to  see 
the  incubating  process  complete!  by  degrees.  Such,  in  fact, 
is  the  case.  The  evolving  of  the  fish  foetus  is  not  simultane- 
ous, but  gradual,  and  the  infant  fry  come  out  from  their  sand- 
bed  by  degrees ;  at  intervals  of  time  corresponding  with  the 
intervals  that  took  place  during  the  deposition  of  the  ova. 
We  may,  therefore,  have  young  fish,  from  one  and  the  same 
nest,  differing  in  age  from  one  to  ten  or  foiirteen  days. 

"  The  length  of  time  necessary  for  the  completion  of  the 
incubating  process  varies  according  to  the  localities  of  rivers, 
because  locality  produces  different  temperatures.  The  tem- 
perature of  river-water  is  also  very  sensibly  affected  — 
heightened  or  diminished  by  the  mildn-  as  or  rigor  of  the 
season.  In  the  rivers  of  the  north  of  Scotland  Salmon  ova 
are  hatched  in  a  period  varying  in  duration  from  one  hundred 
to  one  hundred  and  forty  days.  In  conformity  with  the 
habits  of  oviparous,  or  egg,  or  spawn-bearing  fish,  the  parent 
Salmon  having  deposited  their  spawn,  impregnated  it,  and 
covered  it  in  beneath  sand  and  gravel,  take  no  further  heod 
of  it,  or  tue  fry  it  produtjes,  except,  perchance,  hereafter  to 
fedd  upon  thoiu.  Water  iiifl.i  he  ,'il  !)y  atmospheric  action  is 
the  sole  immhatia^  ai^eut.  I  iimy  \\ 'W  ohsovv^-  th.a  alt  ■!•  : 
ova  are  covered  in  they  are  safe  from  all  casualties,  on  which 
point  more  hereafter. 

"  It  is  during  the  deposition  of  ova  that  they  are  destroyed, 
and  the  great  destroyers  of  them  are  river  Trout  of  every 


THE    SALMON    FAMIIY. 


221 


fleece,.    Theae  S»taon.p.sts  are  ever  „„  the  watch  whU„ 
&lmon  are  depositing  their  ova,  and  are  only  kept  atj 
n^om  tte  .pawning-bedB  or  trenches  b,  iie  JattaL  Z 
np.d    harges  made  on  them  by  male  and  female  Salmon 
both  „,,„3t  they  are  preparing  to  spawn,  and  are,  at  least  one' 
of  them,  actually  engaged  in  doing  so.    However,  as  long  a 
a  spawnmg  Salmon  is  in  its  bed,  or  nest,  laying  ova  or 
™pregnat:„g  n,  no  Trent  will  venture  to  come1,rthI 
excavat,on.    It  is  only  when  spawning  flsh  drop  down  the 

hak  of  the  bed  above  that  already  excavated,  afld  in  wh  ch 
uncovered  ova  are  deposited,  that  Trout  dart  towards  thll^ 
and  devour  the  spawn.    The  falling  down  stream  for  a    h^ 
time  and  short  distance  on  the  mrf  of  <5,l™      •     , 
necessitv  ■  fi..,  .        ■  '^  ^'"'™  "  "^  '»ofoW 

necessity .  first,  to  gam  renewed  strength  by  temporary  cessa- 

.on  from  labor;  and  secondly,  to  get  spacLno^gh  t^  ^e 

,  llu     \     ^  """  "  J""'*'''^  P''™^^'  i"  o^"^  to  be  able  to 
dart  their  heads  with  greater  force  and  eifect  into  the  Id 

V,.    It  watches  their  emisdon  by  the  spawning  Salmon 

along  It  to  the  spawning-bed,  out  of  which  it  extracts  a  large 
quantity  of  spawn,  and  would  steal  more  did  not  the  ~ 
-ng  fish  see  it  and  drive  it  away.  The  spawn  once  ft  2 
oovered  m,  neither  Trout,  nor  water.ousel,  nor  any  otherflsh 
or  bird  ^n  ,„jnre  it.    The  supposition  that  Eels  burr  I  int 

It  IS  alleged  that  alluvial  deposits  frequently  settle  upon 

l.em  in  fine  by  preventing  the  chemical  action  necessary 
foi  tbeir  incubation  from  reaching  them.  Such  occurrence! 
»aa  very  rarely,  if  ever,  take  place  in  the  spots  Salmon  select 


222 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER  S    BOOK. 


for  spawning.  Those  spots  are  in  running  waters,  where 
alluvial  or  other  matter  brought  down  by  floods  cannot  well 
abide.  And  here  let  me  remark,  that  Salmon  never  deposit 
their  ova  in  the  sand  or  gravel  of  still,  smooth,  or  deep 
V  aters.  They  never  breed  in  lochs  or  lakes.  Nor,  a  very 
curious  fact,  will  they  spawn  in  new  gravel,  nor  in  gravel 
that  lias  been  recently  disturbed  by  natural  or  artificial 
causes.  For  instance,  a  spate  or  flood  shall  sweep  away  a 
portion  of  the  gravel  of  a  ford,  and,  for  many  years,  a  favorite 
spawning  locality,  and  by  so  doing  expose  a  new  stratum  of 
gravel.  Not  only  will  Salmon  spawn  no  longer  there,  but 
they  will  not  even  rest  in  theii*  journeys  in  water  having  a 
bottom  recently  disturbed.  A  period  of  about  two  years 
must  elapse  before  they  will  frequent  a  pool  or  stream  from 
which  grav  1  has  been  removed,  or  to  which  gravel  has  been 
added.  So  that  an  excellent  spawning-bed,  or  a  famous  pool, 
may  be  annihilated  by  a  furious  rush  of  water. 

"Growth  of  Salmon-Fry. — The  ova  having  been  hatched, 
the  embryo  Salmon  pierces  the  sandy  and  gravelly  crust  of 
its  nest,  and  almost  instanter  assumes  a  shape  somewhat  like 
a  hairless  caterpillar,  or  fringed  larva  of  about  three-quarters 
of  an  inch  in  length,  and  tapering  from  head  to  tail,  having  a 
small  sac  attached  to  it,  near  the  throat,  about  the  size  of,  or 
rather  less  than,  the  original  ovum,  or  single  pea  or  spawn. 
This  sac  is  the  remains  cf  the  incubated  ovum  or  egg,  and 
still,  no  doubt,  contains  vitelline,  or  matter  equivalent,  foi 
the  sustentation  of  the  infant  Salmon.  In  connection  with  the 
sac  and  incipient  fish,  several  conduits,  or  veins,  are  visible. 
The  sac  remains  attached  to  the  imperfectly  formed  fish  for 
about  a  month,  and  is  detached  or  consumed  by  degrees. 
The  gradual  detachment  may  be  observed  in  a  specimen  of 
twelve  days  old,  for  at  that  age  it  will  be  seen  that  the  sac 


THB   SALMON    FAMILY 


2^8 


has  visibly  decreased  in  volume,  though  i,  h«,  no.  a«  ye, 
become  undetached,  or  entirely  consumed  ^ 

"At  a  month  old  the  flsh.fa,tus  has  grown  in  length,  and 
exh.b, ts  to  the  naked  eye  plain  traces  of  head,  eyes,  and  tail. 

tudinal,  half-animated  substance 

"At  two  months  old  the  .fry-  measures  about  one  inch  and 
a  half  s  of  nearly  perfect  piscine  formation,  having  all  its 
flns  well  defined,  and  on  its  coat  a  slight  appearance  of  tran  ! 
verse  bars,  commonly  and  erroneously  termed  'parr  marks' 
In  speafang  of  the  young  of  Salmon  I  shall  invariabTu  e 
the  word  .fry.,  until  they  have  attained  the  age  of  tt " 
months,  when  I  shall     ;■  them  'Smolts.' 

"At  from  three         „  ,.  months  a  Salmon.fry  measure,  in 
length  from  two  to  two  and  a  half  inchea-hardly  so  much, 
ts  head  ,s  round ;  there  are  pink  spot,  on  the  body,  and  the 
transverse  bars  are  plainly  apparent. 

"At  six  months  the  young  fish  measures  from  three  and  a 
quarter  to  three  and  a  half  inches  in  length,  and  the ^fnk 

Sir  "■"""" """" "°""""' '°  ''"""""^  ""^-^  "<•  ■»»-■« 

"At  eight  months  the  fry  is  very  little  longer  than  i,  is  at 
s:x  months  of  age,  but  it  is  evidently  thicker  or  more  but: 
A  nme  months,  even,  the  increase  of  growth  does  no.  tally 
wtth  the  mcrease  of  age.  No  doubt  its  growth  is  impeded  by 
(I  beg  the  reader  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  am  speaking  gene 
-lly,  and  not  of  exceptions)  its  attaining  the  above  afe  in 
he  wmter  months  when  its  favorite  food,  flies,  other  inLts, 
and  larv»  cannot  be  procured  in  anything  like  abundance." 

and  l!"'"'™*^  f  '*"  »™"'^  ""«^™'»3  about  four  inches, 
and  the  transverse  bars  begin  to  disappear,  silvery  smolt  scaled 
by  degrees  taking  their  place. 


224 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


I 


"  At  eleven  months  its  length  is  four  and  a  half  inches,  and 
the  bright  silvery  scales  are  now  seen  descending  towards  the 
region  of  the  belly. 

"  A  Salmon-fry  at  twelve  months  old  is  called  a  'Smolt.' " 

'It  now  assumes  the  migratory  coat,  that  is,  the  silvery  one. 
The  transverse  bars  have  disappeared,  and  so  have  the  pink 
spots  on  the  sides.  The  young  fish,  a  part  of  the  back,  belly, 
and  head,  is  covered  with  bright  silvery  scales.  At  the 
shoulder  a  few  Trout-like  spots  are  visible.  It  is  now  ready 
at  the  first  fitting  opportunity  to  commence  journeying  down 
river  to  the  sea.  In  order  to  induce  and  enable  smolts  to  do 
so,  it  is  not  necessary  that  rivers  should  be  flooded,  but  there 
must  be  a  sufficient  volume  of  water  to  carry  the  migrating 
fish  safely  over  weirs,  shallows,  and  other  impediments. 
They  will  not  migrate  at  low  water." 

Although  repeating  in  part  what  has  just  been  said,  to 
elucidate  the  subject  still  further,  I  give  on  the  next  page  my 
own  explanation  of  the  subjoined  illustration. 


Q 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


225 


^^In  .ho  foregoing  figure.  No.  1,  represents  tbe  impregnated 

tr?.?^!  "'*'  '"'  '"''■•8"8  ft""  'he  egg-with  the 
umbtUcal  bMer,  from  whieh  it  draws  its  suLna  <»  f! 
he  first  month,  att^hed-this  little  saoic  of  nntriment  ^ing 
absorbed  m  about  that  time  •  "  ^ 

«'°™*  '''  '^'"''"'  '"»^"-'  "''^'•-  has  dis. 
i.  Bepresents  its  size  when  three  months  old 
6.  Bepresents  the  size  at  five  or  six  months  old 
Figure  6,  on  page  227,  shows  the  size  at  ten  or  eleven 
months.    It  .s  seldom  found  larger  with  the  bars  or  "  finger 
marks-  on  n;  and  has  much  the  appearance  of  a  Jig 
Trou  .    Figure  7,  on  same  page,  represents  the  fish  when  ! 
month  or  two  older,  after  it  has  assumed  th,  silvery  olt  1 
ushers  .t  mto  the  "Smolt"  state,  soon  afier  which  ft^;  t 
course  scaward,t„  return  in  a  few  months  a  beautil  t , 
«.gh.ng  as  many  pounds,  as  it  did  ounces  when  it  se  !nt t' 
Its  first  journey  to  the  great  deep. 

The  first  four  figures,  on  page  224,  I  have  had  copied  bv 
Mr.  Fry's  permission,  from  his  work  on  Fish-BreeZg    the 
remammg  figure  (No.  6),  and  those  on  page  227  (Nos  6  and  7^ 
.re  fac  stmiles  of  those  in  the  "Book  If  fte  Salmon  '        ^' 

the  /"tL^cT  '"'  ''"'  °°  '"'^'"'"-  '■>  distinguishing 

he  fryof  the  Salmon  from  small  Trout.    The  Jmon.fry 

h^ve  sea  es  which  are  much  mo.  perceptible,  and  easily  d^' 

nent.  °"^'^'^'  *"  "y^  »™  larger  and  more  promi- 

There  is  a  fact  connected  with  its  change  of  apparel  not 
mentioned  in  the  "Book  of  the  Salmon/'  but  wM  h T 
Sorope  turns  to  account  in  proving  that  the  little  fish  kno!  ' 
for  a  long  .me  as  the  "Parr,"  and  thought  to  be  of  anotTe 


226 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


II 


species,  is  no  other  than  a  young  Salmon.  This  he  demon- 
strated conciusively  by  scraping  away  the  silvery  scales  of 
the  Smolt  for  half  the  length  of  its  body  and  exhibiting  the 
red  spots  and  bars  of  the  so-called  "Parr,"  still  distinctly 
painted  beneath,  on  the  skin.  In  his  "Days  and  Nights  of 
Salmon  Fishing,"  can  be  found  a  beautifully  colored  engraving 
of  a  Sinolt,  with  half  of  its  body  denuded  of  the  scales,  show- 
ing that  it  had  not  entirely  parted  with  its  beautiful  vesture 
of  red  spots  and  bars,  but  had  only  concealed  it  with  the 
silvery  coat  of  its  progenitors.  The  spots  and  bars  which 
remain  beneath  the  scales,  are  only  obliterated  b}'^  its  first 
visit  to  sea — during  its  transition  from  the  Smolt  to  the  Grilse 
state. 

The  usual  manner  of  designating  the  different  stages  of 
growth  and  changes  in  the  condition  of  the  Salmon  is  thus : — 

As  long  as  it  bears  the  red  spots  and  finger-marks,  it  is 
known  as  "Pink,"  "Salmon-fry,"  "Samlet,"  and  is  sometimes 
yet  called  "  Parr."  When  it  puts  on  the  bright  coat  prepara- 
tory to  going  to  sea  for  the  first  time,  it  is  called  a  "  Smolt." 
After  its  return,  it  is  a  "  Grilse."  After  its  second  migration, 
it  is  a  "  Salmon,"  and  is  ever  after  so  called. 

A  Salmon  just  from  the  sea  is  called  a  fresh-run  fish,  when 
it  generally  has  parasites,  called  sea-lice,  adhering  to  different 
parts  of  its  body  and  in  its  gills.  After  it  has  been  long 
enough  in  fresh  water  to  lose  its  silvery  appearance,  it  is 
called  a  "Blackfish."  After  spawning  it  is  a  "Kelt,"  or 
"  Foul"  fish. 

Let  us  turn  back,  now,  to  the  young  fish  at  the  time  it  be- 
came a  Smolt.  The  "Book  of  the  Salmon"  s;\ys  that  the 
gi-eater  portion  of  Smolts  descend  the  rivers  of  Scotland  in 
April  and  May,  and  implies  that  they  continue  though  in 
smaller  numbers — to  go  to  sea  all  summer,  ana  even  until 
autumn.    This  naturally  occurs  where  the  spawning  season  is 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY, 


227 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY 

dbtributed  over  a  ,p«»  of  «,,  „,.  ^.^ 
mformauon  received  from  the  be,t  .ouroe.  and  f  om  ll 
able   o.clu«o„,  drawn  from  premise,  al«ady  ,aiu  down    ." 
doubtful  whether  the  migration  of  Smolt  Jthat  isTn  i„'  e 
uumbers-from  the  river,  of  New  Brunawiolc  and  Call 
commencea  uutil  lafo  in  fV...  v>anaaa. 

^  '^^^  summer  or  early  in  autumn      t 
d.d  not  take  a  Sn^U  during  my  ,a,t  .ummer'  Lh   ™  '.h 

and  red  ,pol.     Nor,  in  my  inquiries,  did  1  meet  with  anv 

.T    a  r-  Ir     1 7'  7"  ""  ^"""^  «""  '"  "^  «"'""  -"^ 
on  the  vol  I  fT'"  °°"*'^"'^'  ""«  '""  O"-  and  spots 
the  young  iish  disappeared  later  in  the  season  after  , ha 
ang,,^  w  ,eh  lasts  until  the  middle  of  September,  wtover 
and    hat  ,t  was  no.  until  af,er  that  time  that  theV  assumed 
the  silvery  coat  of  the,  «;rr.,jf       i      ■  "^  »oBuxiiea 

y  oom  or  the  bmolt  and  migrated  to  sea. 

a  unlse  unt.l  the  following  summer.    The  long  time 

necessartyoecupied  in  ineubation  in  those  cold  watllnd 

he  lengt,h  and  low  temperature  of  the  winter  whilh   oUow' 

debasing  .t  from  feeding  and  retarding  its  growth  t  anleT 

:t  rr;r ::::  r:  r  -  ~ = 

.he  river  was  cCd "   il  "'""  "  "  ^"""^  "^f"- 

e-;r;tr:itrtr"'-"^^--~ 

From   all  accounts   there   is  a  disparity  in   the   si.e  of 
American  and  European  GrilsA     T*  . 

iopeanunise.    It  appears  from  the  "  Book 


280 


AMERICAN    ANOIiER'd    BOOK. 


of  the  Siilinon,"  and  other  British  authority,  that  in  all  proba- 
bility tho  Smolt  that  goes  to  sea  not  larger  than  figure  7  on 
page  227,  returns  in  eight  or  nine  weeks  a  Grilse  of  five 
pounds  or  more.  Some  writers  mention  them  of  eight  or 
nine  pounds,  and  say  that  the  average  is  over  four  pounds. 
The  generality  of  American  Grilse,  ad  far  as  my  experience 
goes,  do  not  weigh  over  three  poiinds.  During  the  whole  of 
last  summer's  fishing  on  the  Nipissiguit,  I  killed  but  two  that 
weighed  as  much  as  five. 

A  Grilse  can  easily  be  distinguished  from  a  Salmon,  even 
if  both  should  bo  of  the  same  size  (wliiijh  is  not  usual),  by 
its  short  smali  head,  and  the  shape  of  the  markings  above  and 
a!'ng  tho  lateral  line,  which  are  more  numerous,  and  are 
round  or  oval  instead  of  being  angular  and  shaped  like  an  X, 
as  they  frequently  are  on  a  Salmon. 

From  personal  observation,  and  the  information  obtained 
fVom  the  canoe-men  (and  certainly  they  have  the  means  of 
judging,  for  they  open  enough  of  them),  the  female  Grilse  is 
never  found  with  roe,  though  the  milt  occurs  in  the  males, 
who,  no  doubt,  perform  the  office  of  procreation  with  the 
female  Salmon.  Grilse  lose  flesh  and  condition  in  fresh 
water,  as  Salmon  do,  though  it  may  not  be  to  the  same  extent. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  water  that  surpasse.<i  a  Grilse  in  its 
symmetrical  beauty,  its  brilliancy,  and  its  agility  and  pluck. 
I  have  had  one  of  ibur  pounds  to  leap  from  the  water  ten 
times,  and  higher  and  fur  her  than  a  Salmon.  Woe  to  the 
angler  who  attempts,  without  giving  line,  to  hold  one  even 
of  three  pounds;  he  does  it  at  the  risk  of  his  casting-line,  or 
his  agile  opponent  tears  a  piece  from  its  jaw  or  snout  in  its 
desperate  efforts  to  escape,  and  frequently  it  is  not  until  after 
repeated  attempts  that  the  canoe-man  is  able  to  gaff  it.  The 
only  safe  plan  to  secure  one  is  with  a  wide  landing-net. 
The  usual  manner  of  noting  the  growth  of  Grilse  or  Salmon 


TUB    SAI.MOK    FiMIlT. 


281 


n  h=otl„„,l,  ,.  «  .^id,  i.  ,„  „„^  ,^^_^  ^^^^_ 
•-r  «.».o,u„g  .  »„„.„  pi„„„  „,  ^„pp„^  „^  ^.  ^    ^  "  -^ 

>v.r.,  ,„  t.,„  root  of  .,,„  „.,i„o»e  fl„,  „ri„  the  ru,li„,„„tary  ' 

"  .nterfere,  ,„a,t  with  the  health  „„d  ,rowth  of  the  fi'h    tZ 
p.  ce  of  eop,,er  or  .■„„  h,.s  „  number  ,t,u„pe<i  „„  i,  ,,,;  , 

ctered  wuh  appropriate  ,„o,„ora,„Ia  in  a  book  Ke;t  f  r  ha 
purpose.     The  M,  i,„p„n,„  ,,  ,„  „.„„,,  .^^^ 

year  aaer, ear,  ,f  „ot  preve„te,l  b,  aeeicWut,  to  eon.  „„e  i" 

»poc>es  .„  u,  native  river,  and  n.any  of  tho,e  thu»  „,    k  J 

re  retaken  and  the  growth  aseertained.     Someti.nes  thi    ! 

T   ;  i""    '"■;;""-'»-'"  «-"•'  fr-'-n  time  to  time  ,.  nd 
o    .     T  ,,  and  o  her  ,nea„»  of  eolleeting  iaet.  coneern the 

Z'1  '""'"  •"  ""^  '"""-•  "™  «'  *e  command  of  IZ 
lande  proprietor,  in  Great  Britain,  whosedomain,  frequ  nUv 
mclnde  several  fine  Salmon  rivers  requently 

The  Matuke  Salmon.-Wo  now  come  to  the  mature  fl,h  ■ 
no  onger  the  rollieking  hobbiedehoy  or  froliesome  maWen 
Or,  .,  but  the  bright  giorions  Salmon  in  ail  its  strengt^a  d 
beauty.     J  here  ,s  nothing  fairer;  „„  fish  th.at  so  flutters  the 
>.-n,  an    blanches  the  eheek,  when  for  the  first  time     gr^ 
swdl,  and  perhaps  a  gleam  of  molten  silver  is  seen  abovtZ 
surfaee  on  the  very  piteh  of  the  pool,  and  the  tyro  findlt  a 
e  .,  fi.s.,  by  a  small  hook  and  a  h,urUke  piece'of  siltol 
g  I,  to  somethtug  strong  and  heavy;   which  goes  at  flr«t 
where  .t  p  ea.es,  with  head  against  the  current,  and  presentiv 
wtth  a  mad  rush  takes  its  course  down  stream  and  by  dp! 

Z:  7^"  -™-  '"  ;■"  "-'f  oe  the  frai.  taek.ef  thattt 
i^t.  by  the  «„c„,s,„g  bearing  of  the  pliant  rod,  brings  it 
within  reach  of  the  deadly  gaff. 

A  Salmon  that  eomes  fr.™  the  sea  in  July  a  bright  fish 
f  ten  pounds,  loses  its  pearly  hue  and  .stout  proportion,  I 
.he  summer  wears  away.    Its  fins,  which  were  white  Z 


982 


AMERICAN    ANULBR'S    BOOK. 


comparatively  soft,  become  blue  and  of  a  whalebone  con- 
aistency,  from  stomiaing  the  rapida,  and  from  its  stay  in  frosli 
water.  By  the  time  the  spawning  season  is  over,  it  has  lost 
nearly  half  of  it«  weigiit,  and  all  of  its  fine  flavor.  Then  witli 
lank  body  and  big  \wm\,  bedinmuid  of  its  lustre  and  miserable 
in  a{)pearanco,  it  seeks  once  more  its  old  homo  in  the  ocean, 
whore  from  the  abundance  and  nutritive  t^uality  of  its  food, 
it  regains  its  lost  flesh  and  adds  some  four  or  five  additional 
pounds  to  its  weight,  and  when  it  ascends  its  native  stream 
again,  it  is  likely  a  fish  of  fifteen  pounds. 

"Ephemera"  says  in  his  "Book  of  the  Salmon:"  "A  Salmon 
weighing,  when  caught  in  its  descent  to  the  sea,  ten  pounds, 
has  been  taken  on  its  return,  after  a  sojourn  of  thirty-eight 
days,  on  its  salt-water  feeding-grounds,  and  when  captured  it 
weighed  twenty-one  and  a  quarter  pounds."  This  is  an 
instance  of  wonderfully  rapid  growth,  still  it  is  diiricult  to 
estimate  from  it,  the  general  increase  in  size.  The  same  author 
remarks  truly,  that  some  Salmon,  from  being  generated  by 
large  parents,  have  an  inherent  dispiwition  to  grow  rapidly. 
Certain  rivers  also  have  a  larger  breed  of  Salmon,  while  in 
others  they  are  small.  Much  also  depends  on  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  the  food  they  may  find  on  their  feeding- 
grounds,  and  the  length  of  time  they  remain  there. 

We  have  no  account  of  Salmon  having  been  taken  in 
American  waters,  as  large  as  the  recorded  sizes  of  those 
which  have  been  captured  in  Scotland.  It  is  probable, 
that  the  North  Sea  and  Atlantic  surrounding  Great  Britain, 
being  warmer,  and  of  more  equable  temperature  than  the 
Atlantic  on  our  north-east  coast,  are  also  more  favorable 
to  that  order  of  marine  animals  (as  Crustacea,  &c.)  on  which 
Salmon  feed,  and  as  a  consequence,  fish  that  spend  the 
winter  at  sea  there  grow  larger.  Salmon  have  been  taken 
in   Scotland   weighing    over  eighty  pounds.      Mr.   Perley, 


THE    SAIMON    PAMUV. 


288 


...    ..»  report  „p,.„  „,.,  „.,,eri«,  of  New  Bru„„,vick,  «.y, 
..e  lu«  been  tol.l  of  ,everul  t,.ke,.  i„  .he  KUtigoue,  e  .iL 
we,ghed  over  fifty.    T,,e  i„r,«  I  ever  heard  of  il 
N.p,-„g„U  was  ,.  fish  of  forty..w„  ,,„u„.l,:  the  ,.„„o„.ma„ 
who  ,,«.r.,l  ,t  »,.l  it  ,,„,,  b„,„  i„  „,„  ,i,^,  ^,„ 

would  probably  have  weighed  Bi  j  pounds  when  it  J 
from  sea  It  was  not  a  verv  rare  tlung  to  t,.ke  fish  of  twenty. 
Ave  a„,l  th,rty  pounds  with  the  ro.1  in  th.  T„,,d,  the  Shi^ 
.n  „tl..r  nvers  of  Seotland  s„„,e  years  .k, ....  ,„„„y  „ro' 
.1  taken  of  twenty  and  twenty.flvep„.„,.,  o  this  side 
of  the  Atlantic  tt  ,s  as  rare  to  take  .hen,  vl.h  th-,  rod,  over 
fifteen  p,n.nds     The  largest  fish  I  have  ev..  hoard  of  bei„, 

«l..r.y-three  pounds:  ten  or  twelve  pounds,  thongh,  is  „  fair 
average  we,ght  for  the  angle,  on  any  of  .he  streLns  ..f  n!w 
Brunswick  or  Canada. 

I»™»CT.-The  ins.ine.  whieh  in.Iuees  .his  fish  .o  seek  its 

eely  turned  .o  aeeoun,  i„  st„oUng  rivers  having  the 
....tural  propert,es  of  Sah„on.s.rean,s,  but  which  beforf  had 
none  in  them.  The  following  instottces  of  .his  kind  are 
men.ioued  m  the  •■  Book  of  .he  Salmon  " 

"Loch  Shin,  a  piece  of  water  about  twentyone  miles  bv 
fourteen,  situate  m  the  hear,  of  the  Sutherland  mountains  is 

^:r ";  "f : "'' ";: "'™  ««■'■ »-'' '-  ^-  sail 

lecundtty.     The  l,K>h  ttsclf  has  four  feeders,  middlin.-si.ed 
rtvers,  v.z.:  the  Terry,  Fiaek,  Garvie,  and  Cuvrv,  in  whirh  1 
vously  to  th..  year  1836,  not  a  Salmon  was  eve   seen,  tt     h 
many  wore  ,„  the  habit  of  entering  the  loeh  or  lake.      n  fte 

Mr.  Lo.h    M.P.,  Salmon  were  caught  in  the  Eiver  Shin 
.hor.lv  before  the  spawning  season,  and  conveyed  to  the  foT; 


284 


AMERICAN    ANGLER    .,    BOOK. 


rivers  above  named,  amongst  which  they  were  distributed  in 
due  proportions.     Mr.  Young  was  the  managing  director  on 
the  occasion.    In  the  wonted  season  all  the  fish  spawned,  each 
iu  Its  respective  river.     Now,  mark  one  of  the  consequences : 
Salmon  at  present,  and  ever  since,  come  regularly  to  spawn, 
traversing  the  lake  to  do  so.  in  all  these  heretofore  Salmon- 
less  rivers.    Nay,  more,  the  fish  hatched  in  the  Terry,  at  least 
those  that  survive  long  enough,  return  to  the  Terry ;  and  the 
young  of  the  other  three  rivers  return  from  the  sea  to  them, 
each  Grilse  or  Salmon  entering  never-failingly  the  stream 
that  gave  it  birth.     What  wonderful  and  unerring  instinct ! 
One  might  think  that  they  would  remain  in  the  River  Shin, 
spawn  where  their  ancestors  had  spawned  ;  but  no,  they  leave 
their  own  natal  shallows,  pass  down  the  lake,  through  the 
River  Shin,  along  the  kyle  of  Sunderland,  to  the  sea;  and  there 
having  become  adolescent,  they  retrace  their  route,  and,  aftei 
necessary  rests  on  their  long  voyage,  very  frequently  on  the 
spots  of  their  parents'  nativity,  they  revisit  for  the  first  time, 
the  scenes  of  their  birth  and  infancy.    Revisit  them — for 
what  ?     Being  nubile,  to  perform  the  nur.tial  rights,  which 
they  do  where  their  forefathers  begat  them,  and  so  they  go  on 
increasing  and  multiplying  in  colonies  heretofore  tenantless 
of  Salmon,  ever  since  volcanic  action  called  from  the  'vasty 
deep,'  the  mountains  and  rivers  (»f  northern  Caledonia !" 

On  our  coast  Salmon  begin  to  leave  the  deeps  and 
come  into  the  bays  and  estuaries  in  May,  and  prepare  for 
their  residence  in  fresh  rivers  by  spending  a  few  weeks  in 
the  brackish  wat'^r,  where  they  stil)  find  food,  though  of  less 
nutritive  quality,  such  as  Shrimp,  Gapelins,  and  Smelts.  My 
L'iend,  John  Ohamberlain,  says,  he  once  speared  a  Salmon  at 
ihe  entrance  of  Bathurst  narbor,  in  which  he  found  eleven 
(Gapelins. 

After  these  fish  have  thus  gradually  prepared  themselves 


THE   SALMON    FAMILY. 


235 


for  a  residence  in  fr«<?}i  ivn^o^  *i. 

fl..f  .•  ^^^'  ^^^J'  ascend  the  rivers  or,  ih. 

In  the  earlv  Dart  „f  ,),„  ,         ^       *"  P""'"  "^ove. 

^  P"'  "•  me  season  thev  matn  «k„M   . 
times  occupTins  a  nn„l  f         /  "°8es,  somo- 

f  J"ng  a  pool  for  a  day  or  two      A<,  tl. 

advances  those  that  enter  the  river  Lvrif,  *'^°'' 

making  twenty  or  thirty  miles  IV/'  "  "'  """'«'" 
th^yhave  an  instinctive  "^ngfo!^.  ^"  ^  f^™'  *"» 
which  they  were  ushered  mo  blV  7""  "'  ""  "™'  ^ 
law  of  nature  however  irnlT,,,      ^'  '^  ""^  ""P™^  °'- 

in.passab,eraU  P^^  j  ^J" Z^  T"  "'  "" 
to  leap  it,  they  return  to  the  nex  1^  T  '"'"P'^ 
below,  and  renew  their  effort  to "r  the"  w""  ^""  *"'^' 
rise  in  the  water.     When  the  til  f  "■  "'  ''""y 

they  drop  down  the  river  tth'T^  ^'  '  '"""  °"'' 

^nudier  tributaHes  fori,  p*;:";"""'^'  "  ^^^  ^^  "^  «>e 

eirriird:^--::!::----. 

people,  that  the  Salmon  in  surmoun  .Va  JT  •  '*"°""' 
ita  ".outh,  and  so  bending  itjf  u  "  I  ^  "'  ""  '" 
spring  and  letti„„  ,1,    ,    ,  °  "  '"'"'•  *'*  "  «»dden 

tL,  'it  •  cSo  r^i;'  ™"  ""''^'°"'  '"^  "^*- 

leap,  the  Salmon  I  tZe  2  "r":  ""'  '"  ■"°''°«  "' 
in  throwing  itself  above  the  IV' ^C;;?"'"  ™''""' 
says,  he  has  seen  a  Grilse  l»a„  „.  ,  ^^""'"^  "■  l^es'lon 
"bliqnely,  the  length  rf  hi  T       ""^  '"""<''  «'""«'"'-' 

feetlng^nd  hTn  V  untrr*'  "'"'  '''^ '^™-"-' 
fall  of  sixteen  feet     Mr  «'         .  ""^  ^^'""^  '»  «'«-  « 

--ore  thanr,ua::!;:x -:-::,""-• 

on  an  average  no  higher  than  six  feet  ^'^'"""P 

Sal™::  ':;„q'«if:r^:  '^^  ^""''^^^  -^—^ 


236 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


one  of  fifteen,  hooked  in  the  same  pool.  There  is  conse- 
(juently  much  difference  in  the  time  required  to  kill  a  fish, 
but  this  arises  in  some  instances  from  the  nature  of  the 
water,  still  or  rapid,  or' the  weather  and  the  time  of  day. 
The  first  Salmon  I  ever  hooked— one  of  sixteen  pounds— I 
killed  in  about  ten  minutes,  without  its  jumping  once,  while 
a  nine-pound  fish,  which  contended  with  me  for  two  hundred 
yards  down  a  succession  of  rapids,  required  three-quarters  of 
an  hour.  Then,  again,  I  have  killed  one  of  ten  pounds  in 
three  minutes,  from  its  having  exhausted  itself  by  continued 
desperate  leaping. 

■  Food  of  the  Salmon.— The  natural  food  of  the  young 

fish,  in  its  native  stream,  consists  no  doubt  of  small  insects, 

the  larva  of  flies,  and  the  flies  themselves  that  deposit  their 

eggs  in  pools  and  running  water  to  pass  through  the  process 

of  incubation.     I  frequently  took  the  fry  last  summer  when 

fishing  for  Salmon  with  an  ordinary-sized  Salmon-fly.    These 

young  fish  appeared  not  to  feed  in  still  pools  or  in  the  eddies  on 

the  margin  of  the  rapid,  as  the  Trout  do,  but  in  the  smoothly 

gliding,  swift  water,  where  the  Salmon  are  found ;  they  would 

frequently  jump  at  the  knots  on  my  casting-line.     Before  the 

British  Salmon-streams  were  protected  from  improper  fishing, 

and  before  it  was  known  that  the  little  fish  then  called  the 

"Parr,"  was  really  the   young  of  the   Salmon,  they  were 

indiscriminately  slaughtered  by  boys   and  foolish   anglers. 

This  was  also  the  case,  to  a  great  extent,  after  they  had 

arrived  at  the  Smolt  state,  and  were  descending  the  rivers 

on  their  first  migration  to  sea. 

It  is  supposed,  that  the  feeding-ground  of  the  Salmon 
at  sea,  is  not  very  remote  from  the  mouth  of  the  river 
from  which  it  migrates. 

Regarding  its  food  while  at  sea,  Dr.  Knox  says :  "  The  tint 
of  its  flesh,  its  superior  flavor,  and  its  wonderful  growth,  is 


»ai!    SALMON   PAMllr 

_______  287 

owiiig  to  its  feedinR  on  thp  «„„=    e       ■ 

baoneofit^o  Lf::L7l">;-PP0-  '^e  Sand  Eel  to 

-"r::i-:::----ono.asa,™on. 

and  vital  organ,  are  conLnel  a ^  ~;  ■"'^'""'^ 
frequently  having  the  flesh  on  h  b  llv  at  7  7  """'' 
*-k.  This  with  the  proportionat  s^a  L  ofT.^  T  T^ 
the  cause  of  its  giving  „„„  „^;^,       ,  '  °*^  "^  ''«ad,  is 

fish  of  its  size.  "'  ''"'^'"'=''  «■"■'  "V  other 

water,  Sir  H XLI  C    ,  ^'  '"  "PP-ance  in  fresh 

'•.at  pertains  :":i^Z:X7..l  tZ  ""^T  "  ^" 
twelve,  and  never  fonn^  o     .^  ^'P^''^^  ^^^  or 

"e  laicmg  a  bait  on  the  rivpr   *\.^      i 

--  ly  offer  to  take  another  till  the  w^of  df''  ,     ""' 

nearly  performed;  '.nt  when  they  are  takefa,        ^?-™  "' 

"vers  in  winter,  food  I  am  toM  ,  "*  ■""*  '"  *« 

stomachs.    The  Sea  Tri,  ?""""""'' '"""O  '"  *«>■ 

'ike  the  Land  TroulTn?  ?      """^  ™'"'°"^  fi^"'  and 
stomach."  '  '  ""'  """'°8'y  fo»d  with  an  empty 

^plXr^  "'  ""■*  ™  "Saimon.«ng»  for  a 


288 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


THE  CANADIAN  TROUT.    SEA  TROUT. 

Salmo  Canadensis:  Hamilton  Smith. 

With  a  view  of  correcting  an  error  which  prevails  in  regard 
tu  this  fish,  I  have  adopted  the  specific  name  above.  It 
is  improperly  referred  by  Mr.  Perley  to  Salmo  tr^Uta,  an 
European  species  found  in  the  rivers  of  Scotland  and  Ireland, 
and  known  there  as  the  Salmon  Trout,  Sea  Trout,  or  White 
Trout.  As  no  scientitic  description  of  the  Canadian  Trout 
has  yet  been  published,  I  have  deemed  it  a  matter  of  sufficient 
importance  to  give  an  account  of  its  specific  characteristics, 
comparing  it  with  the  European  fish  and  the  Brook  Trout 

of  America. 

Griffith,  in  his  "Animal  Kingdom"  (Vol.  X.,  p.  474),  in 
alluding  to  a  beautifully  colored,  though  no',  correct  drawing, 
found  on  a  preceding  page  of  the  same  volume,  says :  "  Our 
figure  of  Salmo  Canadensis  was  drawn  by  Colonel  Hamilton 
Smith  from  a  living  specimen  taken  in  Canada;  it  is  beauti- 
fully dotted  with  blood-red  in  white  circular  spots."     This  is 
all  that  this  naturalist  says  of  it.     Mr.  Perley,  in  his  letter  to 
Frank  Forester  (sec    'Fish  and  Fishing,"  page  122),  gives 
none  of  the   specific  cbaracteri sties  of  this   fish;   even  his 
account   of  its   habits  and   general   appearance   would   not 
warrant  his  referring  it  to  the  same  species  as  the  Sea  Trout 
of  Scotland,  for  he  implies  when  comparing  it  with  the  Brook 
Trout  {S   fontinah's),  that  the  Canadian  Trout  has  red  spots, 
which  *S'.  trutta  never  has,  but  on  the  contrary  dark  irregular 
markings,  as  Yarrell  says,  "  somewhat  resembling  the  letter 


THE   SALMO^    FAMILY. 


28» 


X     wkch  are  the  shape  of  tho.e  found  al.o  on  the  Salmon 
S.r  Humphrey  Davy  and  Y„„.1I  make  no  mention  of  r^' 
»po^  on  .he  Sea  IVou.  of  Scotland,  and  Irish  and  Seot^ 
angler,  ,n  whose  con^pany  I  have  taken  the  Canadian  fish 
«ay  posmvel,  ,hat  the  Sea  Trout  the,  caught t«:  .^d 
country'  ,s  ent.rely  a  different  fish,  and  has  L  reUs^l 

Mr.  Periey  says  of  the  habits  of  the  Canadian,  or  Sea  Trout 
as  he  calls  them  :  -They  proceed  up  the  rivers  as  far  as 
head  ol  ttde  .n  each,  but  never  ascend  into  purely  'r  1, 

with  the  European  fish,  for  it  is  an  established  fact  tin,  al 
the  Salmon  Fa.nily  seek  water  which  is  highlv  acra  ed 1 1 
purpose  of  spawning,  and  of  necessity  ..ase;nd  into  p  r  ly 
fresh  water,"  and  that  fish  of  M,  .species  will  go  to  thel  v 
sources  of  a  river  for  that  purpose,  if  not  preve Id  bv 
...payable  falls  or  the  smallness  of  the  uppe'I^    f,^ 

C"    ahi       !    "'  "  "'  "'""'^''^^  """  "--."River 
Trout.      Ihis  ,nt,mate  association  is  one  reason  why  they 

are  so  often  confounded  with  the  latter  by  careless  observers 
for  a  residence  in  fresh  water  gives  them  n,„.h  ,1,.  ' 

of  light-eolored  Brook  Trou^  7„d  "PP^arance 

Jistin.r„i  I,  ,1,        ,      ,  ""•>'  P™""-'  '^"n  only 

:!;;:  Ce.    '  '"^-^ "-  '"''-'''^  -^  -^  »p-'- 

It  was  thus  by  imperfect  observation,  and  too  readily  credit 

:::!:::::^«--howe^^     „,,.,^:;;^;'- 

"..  .  permanent  re.idc„.  i„  1 1!:!  r    "Z  "  "  "'"'^  '"  ^"<'«"".  "       . 
ciW  .0  i„  pri.„„  and  ZZ°  f  °"°™  °'  ""■  '«'"■"«%  •■■"»- 


240 


A  M  E  R  I  c;     N    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


fish,  that  Mr.  Perley  not  oi<1y  referred  it  to  an  entirely 
different  species  and  misled  persons  as  to  its  habits,  but  has 
communicated  the  same  errors  to  Frank  Fcrester,  who  entails 
them  upon  his  readers. 

Taking  Mr.  Perley's  account  with  Frank  Forester's  endorse- 
ment as  true,  I  arranged   my  tackle  acconlingly,  and   last 
summer  visited  the  Province  of  New  Brunswick,  expecting 
to  take  the  true  Salmo  trntta,  but  after  diligent  search  imd 
inquiry,  seeking  every  source  of  reliable  information,  I  could 
not  find  or  hear  of  its  IwjaV'ty.    All  who  had  observed  fish  or 
had  to  do  with  them,  averrii  j  t,hj,i  there  wc  re  no  Trout  in  the 
Provinces  but  those  with  red  yoU,  or  any  fish  of  the  Salmon 
family  in  the  rivers  wiihout  red  .jpois,  except  Salmon,  Smelts, 
and  Capelins.     I  also  found  that  the  general  average  size  of 
this  fish  when  taken  in  the  rivers,  was  not  as  large  as  Mr. 
Pc -ley's  remarks  would  lead  one  to  suppose,  and  that  his 
"avovige  from  three  to  five  pounds,"  and  his  killing  "in  one 
morning-  sixteen  Trout  weighing  eighty  pounds,"  were  won- 
ders "  few  and  far  between."     Such  rare  sport  may  occasion- 
ally be  fouiid  in  May  or  early  in  June,  when  many  of  the 
schools  that  enter  the  bays  and  harbors  are  composed  entirely 
of  fish  of  large  size,  but  in  fresh  water  I  do  not  think,  as  a 
general  thing,  that  the  average  will  reach  a  pound.     I  have 
taken  them  as  small  o-s  four  ounces. 

A  Canadian  Trout,  fresh  from  the  sea,  compared  with  a 
Brook  or  Eiver  Trout,  ha?,  larger  and  more  distinct  scales ; 
the  form  is  not  so  much  compressed;  the  markings  on  the 
back  are  lighter,  and  not  so  vermiculated  in  form,  but  resem- 
ble more  the  broken  segments  of  a  circle ;  it  has  fewer  red 
spots,  which  are  also  less  distinct.  It  is  more  slender  until  it 
reaches  two  pounds,  a  fish  of  seventeen  inches  (including  the 
caudal),  after  it  has  been  some  tii.ij  "'n  fresh  water,  weighing 
only  a  pound  and  three-quarters,  while  a  Brook  Trout  of  the 


THE   SALMON    FAMILY. 


Ml 


«me  length,  ,„  go„d  eondition,  would  weigh  .l,ree.quarte„ 
of  a  pound  more.    They  become  more  robust,  however  a 

r;t:::.rr°''''»^--^-'--ii.!or 

In  color,  when  fresh  run  from  sea,  this  fish  is  of  a  li^ht 

W  sb  green  on  the  back,  light  silvery  gray  on  the  sides,  and 

b  1  .an.  whue  on  the  belly ;  the  ventrals  and  anal  fin  enltiv 

wh>te.  the  pectorals  brownish  blue  iu  front,  and  the  ^Z 

n.ys  roseate  white.    The  tail  is  quite  forked  .„  the  yoTng 

flsb^  as  ,„  all  the  Salmoni^,  b«  „hen  fully  gr„w ' ""! 

shght.y  lunate.     There  are  recurved  teeth  on  the  paJemar 

.llanes,  and  tongue,  but  none  on  the  vomer 

If  the  number  of  rays  i„  the  fins  indicate  specific  differ 
enee,  or  aftnuy,  the  following  table  will  show  that  hi  fi *" 
m„,y^alliea  to  the  Brook  Trout  than  to  the  Sel  rl: 


Sea  Trout  {8.  trutta) 

Canadian  Trout  {S.  Canadensis) 

Brook  or  River  Trout  {S.fontinalis) 


A. 

10 
9 
9 


C. 
19 
19 
19 


There  being  only  a  difference  of  one  rav  in  th.        .      , 
»hich  may  be  accidental    -  ^       *'  P'°'°™'=' 

-3  »ot  e...  rt::r:tn:;;:;,:r "': 

lave  no  doubt  that  it  is  found  in  the  Ar,t,-    «  "™°''  ^ 

of  the  Atlantic,  as  I  have  e  amL^^rthrV",    '"'''^ 

INTn+nTni  c  •  "'""leu,  at  the  Academv  nf 

iNatural  Sciences,  sDecimnns!  r^f  ♦!,  -^  "^ 

^r.  Hayes,  in  hi;  ITZ^ ^^  T  IP''  "^ 

which  agree  exactly  with  the  dcseXtm    f  ^  ,""     '""""''• 

Yarrell.    There  were  no  ma  k     "    7  '" ''"™  "" 

whichrai.htbe,cc   .ntMf  T    *  "'■  ""  ""^  '"'»'-•. 

=ht       a«„unted  for  from  the  fact  that  the  specimens 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


were  quite  young,  not  being  over  eight  or  nine  inches  in 
length ;  or  the  markings  might  have  been  obliterated  by  the 
alcohol  in  which  they  were  preserved. 

In  a  recent  publication  ("  Game  Fish  of  the  North"),  the 
author,  who  writes  over  the  name  of  "Barnwell,"  says,  when 
speaking  of  fishing  for  Canadian  Trout  on  the  way  from 
Chatham  to  Bathurst :  "  In  case  you  should  be  too  late  to 
reach  Bathurst  the  same  day,  or  have  leisure  on  your  hands, 
stop  at  the  Half  Way  House,  on  the  Tabasintac,  which  has  the 
last  syllable  accentuated,  and  fish  that  night  and  next  morn- 
ing for  Sea  Trout.  They  are  taken  from  a  horse-boat  in 
abundance  and  of  great  size." 

After  reading  the  above,  I  concluded,  last  summer  in  visit- 
ing the  Nipissiguit,  to  take  "  Barnwell's"  advice,  but  was  puz- 
zled as  to  what  he  meant  by  a  "  horse-boat ;"  after  thinking 
the  matter  over,  though,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
Tabasintac  was  a  river  of  some  size,  crossed  by  means  of  un 
old-fashioned  hprse  ferry-ho^t,  from  which  an  angler  had 
nothing  to  do  but  cast  his  flies,  and  take  wheelbarrow-loads 
of  three  and  four  pound  Trout.  Judge  of  my  surprise,  when 
I  found  the  Tabasintac,  at  the  Half- Way  House,  a  shallow 
brook  crossed  by  a  wooden  bridge  of  a  single  span ;  that 
there  was  no  fishing  worth  stopping  for,  unless  one  would 
make  up  his  mind  to  go  five  or  six  miles  down  the  brook, 
w  here  it  joined  another  stream  of  the  same  size,  which  would 
occupy  a  whole  day,  or  necessitate  one's  staying  all  night  at 
the  junction,  if  he  started  in  the  afternoon;  and  then  with  a 
certainty  of  being  stung  terribly  by  mosquitoes,  and  bled 
.;opiously  by  black  flies.  I  also  found  that  Barnwell's  "  horse- 
boat"  was  a  large,  leaky  old  "  dug-out,"  made  of  two  hugo 
logs,  joined  together  with  wooden  pins,  and  drawn  up  and 
down  tlie  bed  of  the  brook  by  a  pair  of  'stout  horses,  the  bot- 
tom grating  over  the  pebbles,  and  bumping  along  over  the 


THK   SALMON    FAMILY. 


248 


larger  stones,  doubtless  tn  th^     ^     •  , 

.ha  .routlets  ;„  the  b'k"        «'""■■"•"»»'  «"<!  '-or  of  „„ 

Notwithstanding  m v  beino-  =,«  .        i     , 
wellV  brief  but  Iwill    "'.'=°"'P'«'«'y  "^'d"  by  "Baru. 

reach  the  celebrated  pool  jr/n'  *""  "^  '  '"''  ™* 
»n<i  only  found  „„e  „  "1  „'     "f"™""  "^  "«'  '«  *»"«, 

Without  moofn.  ihe  „      .   """''■  ™  ™"'»"-  »»""'• 

pro«cie„c.  in  itCo;;::"::!'-:  "t""-  ^^^^'^ 

warm-hearted  ..entlcLn  ^^      ,  '  """"S  »  S""*"'. 

.he  latter  ...uCZ^J:^;'  '^"T    '"  ^-^  "' 
this  flsh  :-  ^      '  ■"'  'P'"""'  '"^"""nt  of  taking 

"It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  whole  Onlf    f  =.  r 
rence  abounds  with  White  Trout  f,  "'•  ^"• 

in  weight.    They  proc^  d  uJT  °"'  '°  "^^"  P"™"^ 

of  ..de  in  each,\'„:t; L        ZZ  It'"  "^  T  '"^ 
water.    I„  the  salt  water  th.„  P""'^  fr^^'' 

■Prince  Edward's  fly7  c  iTd  IT  Tf  ""'^  """  *« 
-net  With  gold  ti'.  0  fl  \.':t  "'  *"'«•'  -^  "f 
wings  from  feathers  of  L  sZSi  T  °""^'  "'"'  ''"" 
South  America.  ""'~""'  '"""■y  """-y'  of 

tC:"  tret:  iir  ::r  *^  r  '^  -"^  ^^*»-' 

--  the  most  attractive^::  1:^:':^  "^T"'" 
water  the  Trout  are  quit    diCnM  '"'  *■'"'' 

very  brilliantly  colored  with  tiZLllT,  Tl  '""'''■ 
and  scarlet,  and  numerous  bright  Zt  \        "*'  *"'<'' 

the  flsh  are  in  good  cond  tion    1  ""     *  '""'^-  *''™ 

.3  a  Silver  Pely.    Thtrr^rrd^r"^  ^'"- 
weight,  but  are  very  sporting  fil,     .u  P™"''"  *" 

Wsh  mes.  but  tbe'red  tell  in''    ^'  '"'^  ™^'  °'  '"^ 

"ackle,  m  all  ,ts  varieties,  is  the 


244 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'8    BOOK. 


favorite.     A  brilliant  hackle,  over  n  vcllow  or  flery-brown 
l)0(ly,  kills  everywhere,  all  the  sense >.^  thioa,«^;h. 

"  The  Sea  Trout  fishing  i-.i  the  bit.>8  uiul  harbors  of '  Prince 
Edward's  Island,'  esi^ecially  in  .'  .no,  when  the  fish  first  rush 
in  from  the  gulf,  is  really  ma-nificent;  they  average  from 
three  to  five  pounds  eacl.  I  found  the  best  fishin<r  at  St. 
Peter's  Bay,  on  the  north  side  of  the  island,  al..ut  twenty- 
eight  miles  from  Charlottestown.  I  there  killed  in  one 
morning  sixteen  Trout,  which  weighed  eighty  pounds. 

<'In  the  bays  and  along  the  coasts  of  the  island,  they  are 
taken  with  the  scarlet  fly  from  a  boat  under  easy  sail,  with  a 
'mackerel  breeze,'  and  oftentimes  a  heavy  'ground  swell.' 
The  fly  skips  from  wave  to  wave,  at  the  end  of  thirty  yards 
of  line,  and  there  should  be  at  least  seventy  yards  more  on 
the  reel.  It  is  splendid  sport!  as  a  strong  fish  xnW  make 
sometimes  a  long  run  and  give  a  good  chase  down  the  wind." 

There  is  also  a  glowing  description  of  what  the  author  calls 
"Sea  Trout"  fishing,  in  a  book  by  Dr.  Adamson  of  Quebec, 
"Salmon-Fishing  in  Canada,"  which  will  no  doubt  interest 

the  reader : — 

"In  writing  of  flies  for  the  Canadian  rivers,  I  ought  not 
to  omit  to  state,  that  in  every  si^vam  where  I  i  ve  found 
Salmon,  except  the  Jacques  Cartier,  the  Sea  Trout  are  to  be 
met  with  in  extraordinary  abundance,  and  that  they  rise 
freely  at  any  of  the  usual  Salmon  tiies,  provided  they  are 
made  of  a  small  size,  but  that  the  most  attractive  I  know  of 
is  a  small-sized  fly.  with  a  scariet  body,  gold  twist,  rtC  l.ackle. 
and  stair's  wing. 

"The  avidity  with  which  these  fish  take,  t      r  t  sizb, 

beautiful  shape,  and  exquisite  flavor,  must  all  be  experienced 
before  any  account  of  them  can  be  implicitly  believed. 
Sometimes  they  become  a  source  of  annoyance  to -the  nervous 
and  excited  fisherman,  who,  having  prepared  a  seductive  fly 


THB   SALMON    fAMILY. 


24S 


«  about  to  flsh  ,  f„ori.,  p^,^  ,„j  _^^ 

IT  '"'™""!\''"' '"  "''»"«<'  'l.e  %  aod  kill  then,  all  „ff_ 
h.n  you  may  «,h  h.  peace  for  your  Salmon,  but  „„t  .ill  thl 

I  am  fond  of  all  sort,  of  fl.,hing,  and  never  oouM  consider  it 
to  be  any  ,.reat  mirfortune  to  hook  and  play  ei^ht  or  ten 
beaufful  fish  vying  .ith  „<,Hen  silver  in'thL  b  i^bC 
and  varying  from  „„„  p„„„d  .„  ,,„„„  ^      -• 

^.   n„tb,„.  of  their  ft.vor  when  broiled  I     breakfast     l, 
t,  ne  havug  the  convietion  on  ,„y  ,„i„d,  tl...  as  soon  ^  I  h  d 
done  ao  I  .hould  in  all  probability  kill  two  or  three  nob  e 
Salmon  in  the  same  pool.  •  <=  ""oie 

"The  best  time  for  fishing  for  these  beautiful  fish  is  when 
the  t.de  ,s  flowmg,  „„d  the  best  plaee  i,  that  part  o^he 
stream  wh..e  the  salt  water  unites  with  the  fresh ;  they  eome 
up  wtth  t  e  ,„de  ini     .       3tr«>m,  and  continue  t^  roa^^,  a" 

Z  tZ'\  "  'TT  '■■""'  "■""  '"»  »»"•  --  0-.  whe 

.:;::::.  T''i::^r  ""-■  '"^''-'  '^^^ 

fi  K  ^f       •  ,  ,.  ^^"'^  ""OS*  excellent  sport  if 

fished  for  with  litrht  taci    .         t  r  ""  »puri  zr 

n  iignt  tacK  ,.        hey  are  frequently  accompanied 

in  their  ascent  of  the  r'^ei^  Iw  tK«  rv,  •  ,    '^'^""'^'^"^^^ 

,  f  •        .  "-^  *^^  "^ore  weighty  and  more 

rr'thtr-  ''^"  '^  -'^^  ^"-^^  ^"  -^Vcumsta:::: 

'■I  remember  one  morning  in  July,  IR  ,he  yacht  Iro 
4U0.S  w^  v,„g  in  the  river  Moisie,  whe,  Oont  six  oWc^t 
my  fr,end  the  m^„r  came  down  from  the  ,eok  .hero  he  h"d 
b^n  performtng  his  .blutions.  and     alUn,  „.„   ^  .^.y  J  ^ 

-^  I  was  still  lyin,  ,„  bed  enga,  ,1  ...n  a  booklkld 
me  to  ..companv  him  on  sh,„„,  as  the  tide  was  making     1 

the  captaii     ell.„g  „8  we  had  no  time  tr    ose  «  |,r,akf,  , 
wa.  nearly  ..^y.    i„  ,,,  .,,„  ^„  ,  ,„_  J'^^;^-^^ 


1 


SM 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


thon  WO  turned  out  our  spoil  upon  the  deck;  tht?  baron  and 
captain  admired  liiein  so  much,  that  thoy  insisted  on  weigli- 
iug  them  before  one  was  committed  to  tlie  gridiron,  and  their 
united  weight  was  found  to  exceed  ei'  '  y  pounds.  Of  their 
exquisite  flavor,  fresh  us  they  were,  and  immediutely  after 
the  wholesome  exercise  in  tlie  invigorating  air  of  the  sea  and 
of  the  mountains,  it  is  only  prudent  to  bo  silent." 

In  the  month  of  May  th<  '^)  is  fine  sport  to  hn  had  in  taking 
these  fish  in  the  Nipissiguit  at  the  head  of  tide,  three  miles 
above  Bathurst.  In  my  visit  to  that  river  I  was  too  late  for 
them,  and  only  took  an  occasional  fresh-run  Trout,  but  not 
of  large  size,  in  the  pools  above  the  "  Eough  Waters."  In 
the  "Basin,"  a  mile  and  a  half  below  th('  (iraud  Fulls,  these 
fish  collect  in  great  numbers,  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  brook 
which  trickles  in  over  a  beach  of  gravel ;  but  they  are  not 
large  here,  and,  having  been  some  time  in  fresh  water,  have 
lost  their  brilliancy  and  resemble  Brook  Trout,  a  few  of 
which  are  also  taken  at  the  same  place.  I  have  taken  thirty 
pounds  here  in  an  hour  with  a  Salmon-fly  of  ordinary  size, 
and  only  stopped  because  they  were  so  easily  caught  that 
there  was  no  sport  in  it.  At  the  "  Falls  Pool,"  a  hundred 
yards  below  the  Grand  Falls,  they  are  often  a  nuisance, 
seizing  the  fly  which  in  a  moment  more  might  have  induced 
a  rise  from  a  Salmon.  As  they  are  not  large  there — seldom 
exceeding  a  pound  and  a  quarter,  and  not  valued  much  after 
they  are  caught,  their  frequent  intrusion  is  vexatious.  A 
red-bodied,  red-winged  fly,  wrapped  with  gold  tinsel,  is  the 
most  captivating,  and  even  when  torn  by  their  sharp  teeth, 
as  it  soon  will  be,  it  is  still  preferable  to  a  new  one  of  plainer 
colors.  I  have  no  doubt  that  a  piece  of  red  flannel  tied  at 
the  head  of  the  hook  would  answer  the  purpose,  and  better 
than  a  well-dressed  fly  of  less  glaring  hue. 

It  is  a  source  of  regret  that  I  was  not  early  enough  in  ray 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


247 


visit  to  Bathurst  to  find  tli«a«  a  u   •     .       . 

from  ^,  and  of     Cl^      .T'  TT  l*!"^  S''"  "'""J-" 

expression,  does  not  "draw  it  mihi  "  „,i       . 

,  la  one  (tue  eighth)  devoted  to  a  review  of  Mr 

Lunmau's  book,  disousainir  Inu  ,„    •.  review  ot  Mr. 

'  ''''°"««^"«  '"«  merits  us  an  angler  and  author. 


248 


AMERICAN    AXQLER'S    BOOK. 


THE  SCHOODIC  TROUT,  OR  DWARF  SALMON  OP 

THE  ST.  CROIX. 

Salmo  Gloveri:  Girard. 

The  only  scientific  account  I  can  find  of  this,  fish  is  given 
by  Girard ;  it  was  brought  to  his  notice  by  Mr.  Townsend 
Glover,  of  Fishkill  Landing,  New  York,  in  compliment  to 
whom  the  specific  name  of  Gloveri  was  bestowed  on  it.  The 
characteristics  of  interest  to  the  angler  I  have  taken  from 
Mr.  Girard's  description,  and  give  them  below. 

"  The  body  of  the  male  is  subfusiform  and  rather  slender, 
particularly  the  caudal  region.  The  female  is  stouter,  with 
the  peduncle  of  the  tail  shorter.  The  eye  is  very  large. 
The  caudal  is  deeply  emarginate  posteriorly.  The  scales 
well  developed.  The  upper  surface  of  the  head  and  dorsal 
region  are  blackish-brown,  the  sides  are  silvery  white,  and 
the  belly  yellowish.  The  region  above  the  lateral  is  densely 
spread  all  over  with  black,  irregular  spots,  some  of  Avhich  are 
confluent ;  a  few  scattered  ones  may  be  seen  beneath  that  line 
on  the  middle  of  the  abdomen.  Four  to  six  of  these  spots 
well  defined  are  always  observed  on  the  operculum.  A  few 
reddish  orange  dots  individually  situated  in  the  middle  of  a 
black  spot,  are  occasionally  observed  along  the  middle  and 
upper  part  of  the  flanks.  Whether  these  dots  are  peculiar  to 
the  female  or  proper  to  both  sexes,  I  am  not  prepared  to  say, 
from  want  of  sufficient  information  upon  that  point." 

There  is  much  obscurity  as  to  this  fish.  Some  suppose  it 
to  be  a  species  produced  originally  from  Salmon  which  v/ere 
prevented  by  some  obstacle  from  making  their  annual  visits 


THE   SALMON    FAMILY      > 

249 

think  it  a  iTmtr^  ?'"™"-'  "  ""  ^P^™^-    0"=- 

Trout,  whiehltirtrr-  "'  ""  '"'"""  ""  ''^"'"^ 
and  io  the  Schoodfe  " Ind  laPT"! '"  "'=  ^'^  °™^ 
of  that  river.    A  friend  wh!  ^  ""'''  ""^  ^""'^•'^ 

has  ™nch  the  appearanee  of  a  gX     i!     f i  ""■  "^'  " 
in  spirits  some  time  and  the  .n  ^^^  '    °"""''"'  ^""^ 

not  visible.     The  numb       fT     ""  "^  ^^"'"'^  '^«'''' 
with  those  of  the  Salmon     "  ''''^'  "''''  '''"'°'"  ''^""'<=''' 

times  a  brace  of  them  are.  ken  at"'"'  ™''  """"«•    ^°-"'- 
-kin,  desperate  ,eaps  above frjatT;'' l""^^  ''"^-"" 
from  his  Jonrna,  the  following  ^el:::  a-f  ^  ""  «'™"  '^ 
"June  1856.     Three  mrU    •     i 

"June  1857     Th  '     '  I"'''  '''  ^^^^^* '  ^^2  lbs. 

o / .     1  liree  rods,  six  days,  432  fish  •  H49  )K 
"June  1858.    Two  rod«  «;  i .  /  '     ^  ^^^• 

^wo  rods,  eight  days,  510  fish ;  725  ]bs 

"  A  v..       .  •  ''''^'  ''''  ^^"^«'  65  fish  ;  94  lbs 

Average  time  of  fishin-  four  nn<i     u  u  , 

He  also  says  that  these  ^sh tr  ^  ''^'    '^""  ^^^  ^^^ '' 

Calais.  "^^  "^*  ^^^nd  as  low  down  as 

week,  and  stop  at  Ea   port''  t^i:  ^r      "," '""''  '*'"^  '^ 

■laily  boat  for  Calais  and  a  r! T     ,  """"'"  """■«  '»  » 

"•e  lower  flshing-pll;;;;'™"",'"""""  '-  '""-of 
I,-  Hi^it^ts.     At  Calais  the  ano-lpr  mi,c+ 

h.»  canoe  and  stores,  and  make  other  preparati;     ,  """"'"' 
ing  out.  preparations  for  camp- 


260 


A^iSBICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


THE  GEEAT  LAKE  TEOUT. 

Salmo  naymacvsh :  Ricuardson. 

The  Naymacush  can  scarcely  be  enumerated  amongst  -wrhat 
are  strictly  celled  "sporting  fish;"  but  as  it  possesses  several 
points  of  Wtcrest  to  the  angler,  besides  its  enormous  size,  a 
work  of  so  general  a  character  as  this  would  be  incomplete 
without  a  notice  of  this  monster  Trout.  It  is  purely  a  fresh- 
water fish,  and  exceeds  in  size  any  species  of  Salmon  known. 
Its  average  weight  is  nearly  double  that  of  the  true  Salmon. 
In  the  waters  of  the  United  States,  it  is  found  in  Lakes 
Superior,  Michigan,  Huron,  and  Erie ;  the  Falls  of  Niagara 
preventing  its  passage  into  Lake  Ontario. 

Dr.  Richardson  describes  this  fish  under  the  above  sci- 
entific name,  giving  it  the  Indian  appellation,  and  says  it  is 
found  in  Winter  Lake.  I  have  no  doubt  it  also  inhabits 
Winnipeg,  Athabasca,  Great  Slave,  Great  Bear,  and  other 
lakes  which  discharge  their  waters  into  Hudson's  Bay  and 
the  Arctic  Ocean.  With  us  they  are  most  abundant  in  Lake 
Superior,  though  they  a':e  taken  in  quantities  in  Lakes 
Huron,  Erie,  and  Micliigan.  They  are  generally  caught  in 
gill-nets  sunk  at  the  botto.n,  on  set  lines,  and  by  fishing  with 
hand-lines  in  deep  water,  a.?  well  as  by  trolling  at  certain 
seasons  of  the  year.  In  winter  they  are  taken  by  spearing 
..hrough  a  hole  in  the  ice. 

In  stopping  for  a  few  days  at  Mackinaw  some  years  ago,  I 
saw  a  Trout  of  this  species  weighing  forty  pounds.    It  was 


i  -wliat 
everal 
size,  a 
nplete 
fresli- 
;nown. 
ilmon. 
Lakes 
iagara 

TQ    SCi- 

fs,  it  is 
ihabits 

other 
ay  and 
1  Lake 

Lakes 
ght  in 
g  with 
certain 
)earing 

ago,  I 
It  was 


H 


1 

n 

c 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


253 


the  precedmg  engraving.     It  ha,  been  taken  in  Lake  S"^ 

r  H"  ^"^  ."  '"""•'  "'  "  """""^  P°"'J»-    The  flav!"^f 

.»  fl,h  ,s  n^h,ng  to  b^st  of.    They  a-e  seldom  eatenThe 
.he  debate  Wh.te«.b,  which  inhabit,  the  sa.e  wate.,  tZ 

It  is  said  that  the  Sayma^.,  ,p,^^  „        ,^^ 
1  kes  .„  the  month  of  November    I  have  never  lee' 
able  to  a„eertu,n  whether  they  seek  those  plaees  where    C 
aerated  wate.  of  br«,k,  or  rivers  flow  into  the  .ake/'t  a 
they  enter  the  n>ouths  of  ™„h  streams  for  that  pnrp 
T  ey  are  donbtless  flsh  of  ™pid  growth,  althongh  ther  Ts To 
rehable  means  of  judging  what  si.e  they  attai!  in  aX 

In  returning  from  Sault  Ste.  Marie  in  July,  1344   in  a 
Mactaaw  boat,"  s„eh  as  was  then  in  genera';  use  lo„g 
1.  voyageurs,     threw  a  line  over,  with  two  stout  00  Kirby 
hooks  a,  the  end  of  .t,  baited  with  a  white  rag  and  a  piejrf 
.~y  .ed  flannel  shirt,  and  hooked  several  Tr!ut  of  thT  Wnd 
uoarthe  "Detour,"  but  the  hooks  in  every  instaneeb,, 
wore  straightened  or  broken,  and  .he  ^ICX-Z 
exception  be„,g  a  small  one  of  about  eight  po  nds  S 

ni;;:  M  "■"  r--^  ? '■'  *""•  "-^  ^-  -^ "'  --  -t  g 

nearly  white,  when  ,^q  bruiled  it.  ^ 

The  degree  of  skill  attained  by  the  Indiana,  halfbreeds 
nd  traders  .„  spearing  .he  Nay....,.,  is  wond  rful  ■  ta  h 
B  only  by  early  education,  or  Ion;,  pr  „.ti«,  th„  ,J  I 
•adepts  in  the  art.    The  usua.  »»;;■.  alT.w:  !!^  "^"" 

^:Z:Z°:^Tr'  1\*^  --ary  weapon 

— fasmrfl:::-:L-x:;::r: 


264 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


keeps  bright  by  scraping  with  a  knife,  and  ties  it,  evenly 
balanced,  with  a  string,  which  passes  through  a  small  hole  in 
the  back.  After  making  a  hole  of  proper  size  in  the  ice  for 
spearing  and  taking  out  his  captives,  he  cuts  another,  through 
which  he  lowers  the  leaden  imitation;  then  covering  the 
larger  hole  and  himself  by  means  of  one  or  more  blankets 
suspended  on  upright  sticks,  he  is  ready  for  operation,  and 
proceeds  to  lower  and  raise  the  counterfeit  fisli  to  lure  the 
great  Trout  within  reach  of  his  spear.  As  the  large  hole  is 
darkened  by  the  blankets,  the  spearer  is  not  seen  by  the  Trout 
below ;  as  he  rises  in  pursuit  of  the  leaden  fish  and  comes 
within  striking  distance,  he  is  impaled  by  the  deadly  spear 
and  landed  on  the  ice,  where,  after  a  few  flaps  of  his  tail,  he 
dies  a  martyr  to  his  voracity  or  curiosity. 

The  wood- cut  of  this  fish  I  have  taken  from  Mr.  E.  Cabot's 
representation,  filling  in  the  proportions  somewhat  between 
the  anal  and  caudal  fins  to  suit  ray  own  notions  of  its  form. 


TUE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


265 


THE  LESSER  LAKE  TROUT. 

Salmo  Adirondacus :  Nobis. 
This,  the  Lake  Tro«t  of  Hamilton  and  Franklin  counties 

tmch.„g  along  at  .ntervals    v,;  W  the  Adirondack  Moun. 
ta.„s.    It  differs  much  in  its  propo.t.on8  from  the  engraving 
ot  Salmo  .onMs.  found  in  De  Kay's  book,  and  reproduced 
by  Frank  Forester;  the  latter  looks  mor.  like  the  hu-e 
m«hapen  Brook  Trout,  sometimes  taken  whc-,  tv  -liing  in 
hose  waters,  than  any  iish  found  in  Lakes  Pleasa.,.,  Pifeco 
n  .an  or  Long  Lake,  or  in  Tuppe,.  or  the  Saranac  Lakes,' 
further  north :  still  I  have  no  doubt,  from  what  I  have  heard 
that  there  are  other  species,  or  at  least  varieties  of  Lake  Trout 
found  m  those  regions,  and  that  De  Kay's  representation  may 
resemble  an  overgrown  specimen  of  one  of  them 

This  fish,  in  form,  is  oblong;  head  one-fourth  its  length  • 
upper  jaw  slightly  longer;  no  scales  on  opercles;  eye  one' 
third  distant  from  snout.  Color:  back,  bluish  green;  sides 
silvery  gray;  belly,  white;  lateral  line  straight;  the  body  is 
mottled  rather  than  spotted  ;  branchial  rays  12 ;  dorsal  1 10  • 
pectorals  IS;  ventral  9;  anal  210;  caudal  (forked)  8-22  s' 
Ihere  are  two  rows  of  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  roof  of  the 


260 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


mouth,  a  row  on  the  upper  and  lower  maxillaries,  and  on  the 
tongue,  but  none  on  the  vomer.   The  teeth  are  curved  inwards 

This  Trout  is  sometimes  taken  as  high  as  twenty-five 
pounds,  though  such  instances  are  extremely  rare,  they 
seldom  exceed  six,  and  the  general  average  is  not  over  four 
pounds.  They  have  one  of  the  habits  of  large  Salmon  when 
hooked,  which  is  sulking  at  the  bottom ;  but  as  far  as  sport 
goes,  they  bear  about  the  same  relation  to  the  Salmon  or  the 
Brook  Trout,  as  a  wagon  horse  does  to  a  full-blooded  racer, 
or  a  vicious  mustang. 

They  are  said  to  spawn  in  November,  along  the  shores  of 
the  lakes,  or  the  rocky  margins  of  islands.  They  are  found 
in  May  and  June,  or  as  soon  as  the  ice  has  disappeared,,  near 
the  outlets,  where  they  are  on  the  lookout  for  minnows  and 
shiners,  which  do  not  venture  into  deep  water.  So  in  trolling, 
greater  numbers,  but  smaller  Lake  Trout,  are  taken  near  the 
outlets ;  and  larger  ones,  and  fewer,  in  the  depths  of  the  lakes. 

Deep  places  in  the  lakes  are  marked  with  buoys,  and,  after 
being  baited  a  few  days,  are  fished  with  hand-lines.  In  win- 
ter, a  place  thus  baited  is  fished  through  holes  cut  in  the  ice; 
but  this  kind  of  fishing  alYords  poor  sport,  and,  as  a  general 
thing,  but  few  fish. 

I  have  never  heard  of  Lake  Trout  rising  as  Brook  Trout 
do,  though  they  are  sometimes  taken  when  trolling,  on  a  large 
gaudy  fly,  attached  by  a  gut  length  to  the  line  or  leader,  eight 
or  ten  feet  above  the  minnow. 

The  usual  mode  of  angling  for  them  is  by  trolling  with  a 
"  shiner,"  a  small  fish  resembling  a  roach  r>r  dace.  At  the  end 
of  this  article  is  a  wood-cut  representing  a  gang  of  hooks 
baited  with  a  minnow.  Stout  Limerick  hooks  are  generally 
used;  the  pair  at  the  tail,  as  well  as  those  in  the  middle, 
should  not  be  smaller  than  Nc^.  1 ;  the  lip  hook.  No.  3  or  4 ;  the 
length  of  the  gang  is  regulated  by  the  size  of  the  bait.     The 


THE    SALMON    FAMILY. 


267 


bait  is  generally  put  on  alive-   ^^     Hn  >,^i,  u  • 

•  •   •         ,  ^'igneiie.     iwo   swivels  are    used-   nno 

o.„mg  .he  f«,t  length,  on  which  .he  gang  fa  .ied  .;  2 

leader;  and  another  a..aehing  .he  leader  to    he    nt     The 

-.-.aeonta.no.,e..Ln:h:Xt^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
».n^  Ime.    The    oader  should  be  of  the  stoutes.  single  g„. 

to  sink  the  bau  ,n  water  of  modera.e  dop.h,  and  .wo  o   .hr^e 

"eid^^r^"^^""'"^-"-^"---™-^ 

In  .rolling,  i.  i,  the  cus.om  of  .he  augler  .o  sit  on  ,  ..  l 
0.  ow  ehair,  „i.h  his  haek  .„  .he  oarsnfan  X  i^' 
on  the  stem  se..,  facing  .he  bow  of  .be  bo  .,  as  i.    s  2r! 

of  hue  are  allowed  .o  run  off  the  reel.  The  m'os.  likefy'.  me 
or  .he  ..Laker"  to  seize  the  bait,  is  when  the  boat  makr 
turn,  as  the  m.nnow  is  then  apt  to  res.  on  .he  bo.to,  „d 
W.1I  recover  ,.s  animation,  and  swim  about;  and  if  .her  s  a 
fish  near  he  js  likely  to  seize  it,  when  it  s  ar.s  againTs  he 
boat  gathers  headway.  *     '         ° 

There  is  a  constant  strain  on  the  line  and  rod,  though  .he 
oa.  may  no.  move  fast.    But  when  a  6sh  lay    hold  it  i 
,  nown  by  a  backward  surge  of  the  rod;  when  the  an^l 

strikes  sn,ar.ly,  .he- headway  of  .he  boa.  is  s.opped,  andTh" 
sh  reeled        g„fl,,_  ,^,  ^.^^  .__      ^^  ^^^         PP  he 

boa.  .s  backed  .owaris  him,  or  follows;  and  as  he  lik^  ha 


268 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


more  than  one  hook  in  his  mouth,  there  is  small  chance  of 
his  escape. 

When  a  large  fish  sulks  or  takes  the  bottom,  his  capture  is 
a  question  of  time  only.  I  have  known  an  angler,  on  such 
occasions,  light  his  segar  from  that  of  his  friend  in  another 
boat,  and  wait  on  his  victim  patii  ntly  for  a  half  hour,  humor- 
ing him  in  all  his  runs  and  sulks,  and  at  last  bring  him 
within  reach  of  the  gaff'  To  increase  tlia  sport,  I  have  some- 
times landed,  and  killed  my  fish  from  the  shore. 

There  is  much  difference  in  the  condition  of  "  Lakers."  I 
have  had  fish  in  the  boat  not  weighing  more  than  three- 
fourths  as  much  as  others  of  the  same  length,  that  were  fuller 
fed. 

The  flesh  is  of  a  much  paler  color  than  that  of  the  Salmon ; 
the  meat  of  a  fish  of  five  pounds  being  a  delicate  pink,  while 
that  of  a  three-pound  fish  is  almost  white.  A  fish  of  four  or 
five  pounds  is  excellent  when  li(  liod;  it  is  more  remarkable 
for  its  delicacy  than  its  richnesii.  1  have  eaten  them  planked, 
but  they  are  not  to  be  comp.iix-;  t-.-  Brook  Trout,  cooked  on 
a  stick  or  under  the  ashes.  I  luivo  also  had  them  smoked  to 
bring  home,  and  think,  on  the  whole,  they  are  us  good  in  this 
way  as  any  other,  though  inferior,  of  course,  to  smoked 
Salmon. 

These  fish  are  found  in  our  markets,  as  far  south  as  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  months  of  October  and  November. 


THB    8Ai       ON    F     MTLT." 


361, 


a 


BACK'S  GEAmNG.    THE  STANDAEDBEAREB. 

Tii-    illua  aiffni/er :  Richardson. 
Dr  Bich„,J«,B,  i„  Ms  "Fauna  Boreali-America,... " 
fi^b  but         t, ,,,,  ^„  ^^^  ^^^^^  ^^_^  J^  ^ 

qu,.l..,„s.    He  d,.,.ribe,  it  thus:   "Back  dark-  "  d,        . 
hue  „..,»ema.  bet.e.n  ,aveude.pu,p,e  and  u:u w' 

several  qua,         .u^r  spots  of  bluish-gray  on  the 
anterior  part  of  the  bod  ,  The  heurl  io  >    •    u 

. u      I.     1  ,  J        ■  lae  neacl  is  hair- brown  abovp  • 

T,  "^t'r'  '='"'™^'"^  ""=  -"-'  --Wned  with  pu  plh 
Mn.^  and  there  is  a  blue  mark  on  each  side  of  the  lovl'aw 
The  dorsal  (in  has  a  blackish.,,rav  color  with  .        if 
bloichpq   n,„i  :  ,  ,        '    ■'         '    ""  """"^  lighter 

bio  ches,  and  is  crossed  by  rows  of  beautiful  Bcrlin°bl„. 
«pots;   >t  .s  edged  with  light   lake-red.     The  ve.nrl  1' 
-^ak^  with  whitish  and  reddish  lines  in  the       ^it  o7 
-  rays.    The  body  is  ecnpressed,  with  an  elliptical  pro 

MK  ■  ■;  ; '  ■  ■  *''°'*"  '■"P"^  "*'  "'0  body  is  scarcely  one 

flah  of  the  total  length,  caudal  included.     L  head  is  s^n 

bang  one.sixth  of  the  total  length  "  ' 

Dr^Richardson  further  says:  "TheEsquin,„   .title  (Hew- 

ook.P,  .vak)  deuotmg  ■  winglike  lin,- alludes  to  its  magnifl. 

dorsal;  tt  was  ,n  reference  to  the  san^e  feature  that  I 

bestowed  upon  ,t  the  specific  appellation  of  Sisn,/er,  ■The 

Standard-bearer-  intending  also  to  advert  to  the  Li    f  „! 

on,pan.on,  Captan,  Back,  then  a  midshipman,  who  took  the 

first  specimen  we  saw  with  an  artificial  fly  '• 

It  appears  from  the  same  account  that  it  is  found  only  in 
cold,  clear  waters,  and  delights  in  the  most  rapid  part  of 
mountain  streams.     In  this  it  differs  from  the  European 


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8<0 


AMERICAN    AXGLEH'S    BOOK. 


Grayling,  which  loves  the  gentle  current,  and  is  generally 
found  at  the  tail  of  a  rift  or  "  stream,"  as  English  anglers 
call  it.  This  naturalist,  and  keen  angler — he  must  have 
been — also  says :  "  In  the  autumn  of  1820  we  obtained  many 
by  angling  in  a  rapid  of  the  Winter  River,  opposite  Fort 
Enterprise.  The  sport  was  excellent ;  for  the  Grayling  gene- 
rally springs  entirely  out  of  water,  when  first  struck  by  the 
hook,  and  tugs  strongly  at  the  line,  requiring  as  much  dex- 
terity to  land  it  safely,  as  it  would  to  secure  a  Trout  of  six 
times  the  size." 

My  experience  in  Trout-fishing  is  that  large  fish  of  any 
species  are  sluggish  in  comparison  Avith  those  of  an  ordinary 
size ;  but  I  am  not  inclined  to  concede  the  superiority  claimed 
by  this  author  for  the  Grayling  over  the  Brook  Trout. 
Making  all  allowance,  however,  for  the  ardor  of  the  angler, 
the  "  Hewlook-Powak"  must  have  given  such  sport  as  the 
fly-fisher  seldom  has  the  happiness  to  enjoy. 

It  is  often  a  source  of  regret  to  the  angler,  that  the  natu- 
ralist, in  describing  new  species  of  game-fish,  is  indifferent  or 
silent  as  to  the  sport  they  may  furnish ;  and  the  fisher  reads 
a  scientific  description  as  a  story  that  is  half  told ;  and  is  apt 
to  set  the  ichthyologist  down  as  a  humdrum  bookman,  more 
interested  in  specific  distinctions  than  in  the  pleasure  of 
catching  fish.  It  is  a  great  relief  to  find  such  an  exception 
to  the  general  rule  in  Dr.  Richardson. 

There  is  a  smaller  species  of  Grayling  (ThymaUus  thyrml- 
hides)  described  by  the  same  writer,  which  does  not  grow 
above  eight  inches  in  length;  he  says  they  are  taken  in 
company  with  the  larger. 

The  Grayling  being  a  fish  in  the  capture  of  which  the 
American  angler  cannot  participate,  we  give  no  account  of 
the  manner  of  angling  for  them ;  but  refer  the  reader  who 
may  have  interest  or  curiosity  on  that  score  to  English 
authors. 


erally 
nglers 

have 
many 

Fort 
gene- 
)y  the 
1  dex- 
Df  six 

•f  any 
linary 
aimed 
rrout. 
ngler, 
IS  the 

natu- 
ent  or 

reads 
is  apt 

more 
ire  of 
3ption 

lymal- 

grow 

:en  in 


ih  the 
intof 
r  who 
nglish 


262 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


a 

00 

m 


THB  SALMON   FAMILY. 


263 


THE  SMELT. 

Oamenia  viridescena :  Dk  Kay. 
This  is  the  beautiful  symmetrically  formed,  bright  little  fish 

Ichthyologists  say  there  is  only  one  species  of  Osmerus 

2:tllT'"T  "^-^*^--^^-  ^hesmanZe 
taken  an  the  Passaic,  the  Raritan,  and  of  late  years  in  the 
Delaware,  are  claimed  by  anglers  and  epicures  to  be  di^er  n 
from  those  brought  from  Boston 

oval;  breadth  comnared  wi.h  I,    ,        .',  ''"'P'""''  'lo-g'^  ;  .ection 

and  head  fro.  IpT   ll  jit  S'  '"°'f"  °'  "'*"  "  ^  '»  "• 
P  oi  lower  jaw  to  posterior  angle  of  opercle  as  5  to  99 

largest  on  the  extreme  point  -  two  nf  fhi  o         i  •    ,  "^"gue,  tne 


264 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Afterwards  I  ascertained  from  good  authoiity  that  it  is  some- 
times taken  in  the  Brandywine,  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  at 
Trenton,  N.  J. 

the  lateral  line ;  sides  silvery ;  belly  brilliantly  white.  Branchial  rays 
8  ;  D.  11,  C,  20 ;  P.  11 ;  V.  8,  A.  16.— The  second  dorsal  has  about  twenty 
minute  but  distinct  cartilaginous  rays ;  tail  forked,  upper  lobe  slightly 
longest. 

"  The  points  of  difference  between  this  and  the  0.  viridescens  are  the 
more  southern  habitat  of  the  new  species,  its  smaller  and  more  uniform 
size,  and  the  distinct  roseate  purple  of  the  streak  above  the  lateral  line. 
O.  viridescens  (the  northern  Smelt)  attains  the  length  of  12  inches.  I 
have  seen  the  new  species  here  dosc^ibed  in  quantities  at  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey,  but  never  exceeding  6J  inches  exclusive  of  caudal. 

"  Storer  enumerates  14  rays  in  the  pectorals  of  O.  viridescens,  but  on  a 
recent  examination  of  that  species  I  found  only  11,  as  in  the  new  species, 
and  that  the  fin  rays  of  both  are  identical. 

"  There  are  several  circumstances  of  interest  connected  with  this  little 
fish.  It  is  the  smallest  of  all  the  Salmonidse,  except  the  two  genera  of 
Scopelus  and  Mallotus.  It  is  the  only  fish  of  the  Salmon  family,  besides 
the  Brook  Trout,  found  in  our  waters,  and  the  only  species  of  anadromous 
salmonidce  that  visits  the  Delaware  and  its  tributaries.  Whether  this  fish 
enters  any  fresh  rivers  south  of  Cape  Henlopen,  is  a  matter  of  conjecture, 
but  I  have  no  doubt,  if  properly  sought  for,  it  may  be  found  very  early  in 
the  spring,  in  many  streams  falling  ^nto  the  Delaware,  particularly  in 
rapids  or  near  the  falls  of  a  dam  which  obstructs  the  upward  flow  of  the 
tide. 

"  It  appears  to  visit  our  waters  only  for  the  purpose  of  spawning,  and  is 
found  at  the.  falls  below  Fairmount  Dam  for  a  few  days  in  February  or 
early  in  March.  In  those  I  examined  a  few  days  since,  I  found  the  milt 
partly  discharged  from  the  male  and  exuding  in  a  semi-fluid  state  from 
the  vent.  Many  of  the  females  had  cast  their  spawn,  in  others  it  was 
partially  discharged,  and  the  ova  were  found  sticking  to  the  sides  of  the 
fish  as  they  lay  in  a  heap. 

"  I  have  been  told  that  these  fish  can  be  taken  occasionally  in  February 
along  the  wharves  and  in  the  docks  of  ^  the  Delaware  with  a  castrnet. 
They  are  taken  with  cast  and  scoop  nets  at  Fairmount  Dam.  They  are 
common  and  abundant  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  on  the  Raritan, 


THE   SllMON   »AMII,T. 


265 


A.  a„  urlido  of  trade  the  Smelt  is  of  .ome  importance     I. 
IS  said  that  a  firm  in  Boston  »r),„  ;,  . 

trade  in  this  delicate  IMafi^'  ,  '^"T  ""'""P''"^««  ""e 
,1,  J  ,  ,,  """^  ""'<'  fist,  sells  no  less  than  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars' worth  of  them  during  the  season,  whkh 
commences  .„  October  or  November  and  lasts  till  M„  h 
They  are  taken  m  large  numbers  along  our  coaa.  no^of 
Boston,  and  are  still  more  abundant  along  the  Gulf  of  sf 
Law^nce,  where  they  come  up  the  riversl  far  lll^ 

iJiofVr: '"  "■" »"""  of  ""y.  just  above  :^ 

h«d  of  tidewater,  immense  schools  of  them  are  directed 
n  their  course  so  a.  to  pass  through  a  narrow  oltg 
formed  b,  p.l.ng  .tones  in  two  oblique  rows  nearl ,  together  S 
t  e  upper  ends.    As  the  Smelts  rush  through  in  a  „omt„  1 
stream,  they  are  diooed  nn  w;.i,  ""uous 

barrels  of  th  ^  scoop-nets.    A   hundred 

barrels  of  them  are  sometimes  taken  in  a  week  on  the 
N.p:ssigu,t  by  a  man,  assisted  by  a  half.grown  boy.  Thl 
.hey  are  used  for  manure,  selling  for  fifty  or  six^y  centsa 

'"  trom  ten  to  fifteen  cents  a  pound. 

«.e  tru,  Salmon  tuZ^^Z'.T  """°'  °'°"  °'»'"^  »''""  «» 

/  "'  *»»at  the  second  dorsal  or  adipose  fin  (which  in  th;« 

fiHh  .s  ransparent),  has  about  twenty  n^inute  cartilaginov.   avs    thl 
quite  dist  net,  and  the  nuMtio^  n  •  .  "^"'agmous  rays;  they  are 

«nd  no.  J.  ™Z Lit.      ■"!■       '"  *''"°  ""  "•»  "^  "«  Creator, 
^peoi»%  neT.  le  rdTltr'  rTL"".'  "  7  T'  °'  "»  ""■ 


266 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


In  England  Smelts  have  been  transferred  to  fresh -water 
ponds  having  no  communication  with  the  sea,  and  have  con- 
tinued to  thrive  and  breed  abundantly.  A  like  instance  ia 
said  to  have  occurred  on  Long  Island. 

There  is  not  the  least  doubt  that  much  sport  may  be  had 
in  angling  for  Smelts  with  fine  tackle  and  a  light  pliant 
Trout-rod,  and  that  they  would  take  the  fly  on  a  favorable 
day,  for  they  are  caught  at  the  north  with  hook  and  line  in 
all  the  harbors ;  generally  from  the  wharves  by  boys,  who 
catch  large  strings  of  them  during  the  autumn,  and  even  in 
winter,  when  other  fish  refuse  a  bait.  This  is  the  case  with 
an  inferior  fish,  the  Roach,  which  is  taken  in  the  docks  along 
the  Delaware  in  winter.  A  Smelt  of  ten  and  twelve  inches, 
to  which  length  the  northern  variety  sometimes  grows,  would 
be  no  mean  prize,  if  caught  in  winter,  by  those  who  feel  that 
angling  is  almost  "one  of  the  necessities  of  life."  Small 
minnows  or  pieces  of  fish  would,  no  doubt,  be  good  bait.  On 
examination  I  have  found  small  shrimp  in  the  stomachs  of 
those  brought  from  Boston.  When  taken  from  the  water. 
Smelts  have  a  fragrant  smell,  resembling  that  of  a  fresh  cu- 
cumber. They  are  certainly  the  most  delicate  fish  that  is 
eaten ;  the  roe,  which  is  very  large  for  their  size,  is  pecu- 
liarly so. 

The  best  way  of  cooking  them,  after  having  drawn  the 
entrails  out  by  clipping  them  at  the  gills  and  vent  with  a  pair 
of  scissors,  is  to  roll  them  in  coarse  corn- meal  or  grated 
cracker,  and  fry  them  in  salad  oil,  or  fresh  sweet  lard.  There 
should  be  sufficient  lard  or  oil  to  keep  the  fish  from  the 
bottom  of  the  pan.  When  served  up,  open  a  Smelt  while 
hot,  and  spread  a  little  butter  on  the  inside  to  melt ;  pepper 
and  salt  it,  and  lay  a  piece  of  the  fish  on  a  slice  of  buttered 
bread,  and  take  a  mouthful  of  each  at  the  same  time. 


I 


THB  SALMON   FAMILF. 


267 


CAPELIN. 

^ailotuavilloatu:  Cvrisn. 

It  is  of  small  .i^,  ^w„„  eledi^ '°  T^  ^^""">- 

fte  Smelt  itself  and  la  »'''''  '°°'*"'=''"^'>y 
peculiar  smell  L:trL?7  IT^  """  "'■■  "  "■« 
«ter.  "  "  ""'^  ''''»  taken  from  the 

-Sa:;ir;:i;~r"-»- coast  Of 

used  a,  bait  fo,  .He  Cod    h     ot  tZ"^' f  ^  *^«^  - 
as  thejr  come  in  Aore  ,3  said  ,.T         '^  °  ""'  ^'  "Sht 

a  fishi„g.smaclc  for  the  ne^M  ;  ""  "  """^  "  ""'  ^«- 
here  for  their  value  a«  Zl  ^'  '^  ""''  °°'^  "'^■'"™«' 
-hern  coast/teTolC::!:  '^^.^ ^  V  ^^ 
little  flsh  is  from  the  A  „ril         u  "  '^'"°«  "^  ""*«« 

-e;theartioi:i  :n^rd™S««t)°fH"P-'3Maga. 

^  "At  earl,  evening  a.!::  I^Zfr^Z^^f-" :- 
boats  go  in  ane^t  nf  r      i-     ,,  ^^^'  *^®  seme- 

little  e!™  and  :  aj  ^  ''"*  7*"^  ^"""^  '^^ 
">»  pulling  in  th  'uslT'""'"  "'°"'«  "-^  ^"--i  *-e 
standing  up  and  pthin       ,^''^'/°  °"™''"  '"  "-c  stern 

water  for  theXrof!!;"  I'  '""  *^  ^""^^^  <>'  *« 
Ws,  motionllr^  f  T     I:  "''°°'^'  "'"'  "  '^^"ut  in  the 

a"d  peering  too  The.  T\'"''  '"''"«  "P""  -^«  '"-"^ 
P    nng  ,nto  the  depths  before  him.    Now  one  gives 


168 


AHRRIOAN    ANGLBR'S    BOOK. 


warning,  and  over  goes  the  seine  smoothly  and  noiselessly, 
and  with  a  rapid  circuit  the  bait  is  impounded  and  quickly 
hauled  on  board.  One  cast  is  generally  sufficient,  for  the 
Capelin  swarm  in  millions,  swimming  so  densely  that  often  a 
dip-net  can  be  filled  from  a  passing  school.  They  keep  near 
the  shore  to  avoid  their  finny  pursuers,  and  are  left  flounder- 
ing upon  the  rocks  by  every  reflux  wave.  The  Cod  often 
leap  clear  of  the  water  in  their  pursuit,  and  at  such  times 
may  be  taken  by  the  hook  almost  the  instant  it  touches  the 
water.  The  Capelin  is  a  delicate  fish,  about  six  inches  in 
length,  and  not  unlike  a  Smelt ;  his  back  a  dark  olive  green, 
sides  of  changing  rainbow  hues,  and  belly  silvery  white." 

Great  numbers  of  these  little  fish  are,  no  doubt,  devoured 
by  Salmon,  as  they  come  in  from  sea  and  enter  the  bays  and 
mouths  of  rivers  they  ascend. 


»HB. SALMON    FAMILY. 


369 


THE  WHITEFISH. 

Coregonus  albus. 

There  are  not  leas  than  thirteen  distinct  speeies  of  Por 
n..  J  described  by  ichthyolorists    Dr  Ri„l    T  «°" 

Boreali.American,  memioCven    ^  itl  ,7;"  I!'  *'"""' 
R<»a.Ohe  Tulibee  Core,ZZ' clr^T  T""^""'"' 

Hn«  Salmon, ..  ,.a.„-.  J,;:;  Rooi':  .'^z':;''^ 
u:■  ^iio^rr^n!:^;^  """r' '""*' '^  ^^ 

White«sh  brought  to  onr  ^^r,ZZ2^:^X:      '' 
the  autumn  months,  and  identical  ^-ith  theT.tit  "? 

Dr.  Richardson) ;  0.  0..,,  the  Otsego  ill  w  t™ ^ 
almost  extinct);  and  C  c/„;«,/^,/.,,  Je  H        !   ^"°" 

On  the  continent  of  Europe  there  i,  ,1,.  .*"'"«■ 
lake,  of  Westmoreland,  En-dandrthe  r  T""  <"  "■" 

of  Dumfrieshire,  Scotl  nd)    and'tla  V   ","""  ^'"  ""'  '''^- 
species,  in  Ireland.  °"'''^''  ""''  """'''^ 

The  Round  Pish  mentioned  hv  Ti     i!:„i,    j        . 
as  our  Whitetish ;  the  remain  e^fboh        b!^?  t"  "  '"«' 
in  Europe,  do  not  exceed  in  size  a  L      u  *""  "'"' 

mostly  known  as  Lake  Herring  ''  "'"  "" 

'a^es  up  to  the  head  of  L^lt^T'^^t  '^T' 

poun.ls;  while  thtbro,  t  f       "'""''  "-"g  four  or  five 

Lhcr;  Take    do  not  !  '  °"  """'^'^  ''-''"'  '^'  »°- 

iakes  do  not  average  two  pounds.    The  largest  ] 


370 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'8    BOOR. 


I 


ever  hoard  of  being  taken  in  Lake  Superior  was  one  of  fifteen 
pounds ;  but  such  instances  are  rare. 

At  one  time  they  were  exported  largely  from  the  qreat 
lakes,  being  suited  and  barrelled,  as  Shad  are  with  us.  The 
usual  mode  of  taking  them  is  with  gill-nets  sunk  in  deep 
places  in  the  lakes ;  but  in  autumn  they  come  in  large  schools 
into  shallow  water  along  the  lake  shores,  to  spawn,  when 
great  numbers  of  them  are  taken  with  the  ordinary  seine. 

Whole  tribes  of  Indians  subsist  entirely  on  them  in  the 
Arctic  regions.  I  found  a  considerable  portion  of  the  tribe 
of  Chippewas  permanently  encamped  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie 
about  twenty  years  ago,  whose  only  means  of  living  were  the 
Whitefidh  found  there.  To  take  them,  the  Indians  go,  two  in 
a  canoe,  to  the  lower  part  of  the  rapids ;  one  in  the  stern, 
with  pole  or  paddle,  keeps  the  prow  steadily  heading  up  the 
current,  while  another,  with  a  dip-net,  the  long  handle  bent 
backwards  near  the  bow  of  the  net,  stands  in  the  bow  of  the 
canoo.  The  latter,  by  a  sudden  dip,  apparently  pressing  the 
fish  towards  the  bottom,  turns  the  net  dexterously,  lifts  it, 
and  throws  the  fish  into  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  sometimes 
taking  two  at  once,  and  never  failing  to  secure  his  prey. 

The  flesh  of  this  fish  is  snowy  white,  and,  though  delicate, 
it  has  a  gelatinous  richness  which  entitles  it  to  all  the  lauda- 
tion bestowed  on  it  by  epicures.  Dr.  Richardson  says  it  never 
cloys,  but  rather  grows  in  favor  with  those  who  eat  it,  and  that 
one  never  feels  the  necessity  of  bread  as  an  accompaniment. 
It  is  said  that  it  is  seldom  found  with  food  in  its  stomach,  and 
then  only  a  few  small  Crustacea.  Still  its  conformation  shows 
it  to  be  a  fish  of  rapid  growth,  and  of  course  a  gross  feeder. 
What  the  food  is,  that  gives  it  such  fatness,  or  where  it  is 
found,  has  never  been  ascertained.  In  the  fall  of  the  year, 
before  spawning,  it  loses  all  reasonable  proportions,  looking 
as  if  it  was  deformed.     The  head,  not  much  larger  than  a 


THB    SALMON    FAMHr. 


271 


romngs  (,t^M  to  .  bcly  a,  deep,  and  .I.ieker  th„„  . 

.t  at  that  «,«„,  that  a  very  large  porti,,,,  „f  i„  ,„h3ta„ce  i, 
io»«  m  frying;  „r  if  broiled,  it  i,  diffleult  to  keep  it  from 
.ak,„g  fire  .,„  the  gridiron ;  though,  i„  the  ear,,  au  1  r    TJ 

ave.ee„jt  at  Sault  S.e.  Marie,  it  i»  Hy,„,„„.rL,l,   on„  d 
but  even  then  ,t  i»  remarkable  for  it,  »,„„|1  h„a,l 

From  ,ta  outward  appearance,  the  Whiteflsh  would  hardiv 

ItT  h  n^  ?''  '"  ^°  "■"  ""'^  '=>»'™cteri.,tie  in  eommo„ 

It«  thm  head  an.l  small  toothle«  mouth, .,  diftbrent  fro.n  the 
powerful  ,,aw„  and  formidable  dentition  of  .speeie,  belo      J 
o  the  genu,  &W,  shows  it  to  be  an  inhabiLt  of  the  i°uie^ 
deep,    earn,ng  ,ts  living  peaeeably,  and  „o.  as  the  gr  „ 

i^orester,  Mr.  Brown,  and  "Barnwell"  to  make  it  ont  1 

y-     JNor  do  I  believe  that  either  of  the  above 
The  following  description  of  its  snem'fin  ,.i        .      •    . 


272 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK, 


BAIT-FISHING  FOR  TROUT. 

The  manner  of  angling  for  Trout  with  bait,  depends  much 
on  v,he  kind  of  water  one  fishes,  or  the  bait  used.  In  a  rapid 
stream,  a  light,  pliant  cane  rod,  with  a  tip  somewhat  stiff,  and 
without  a  reel,  is  to  be  preferred ;  a  tine  line  of  silk  and  hair, 
with  a  gut  bottom  of  three  feet ;  a  weak-trout  hook  of  No.  25 
or  26  is  better  than  the  short-shanked  Kirby;  split  shot 
should  be  used  for  sinkers,  one  or  more,  as  the  current  may 

require. 

With  such  tackle  and  in  water  as  above  mentioned,  let 
me  describe  the  manner  of  baiting  the  hook.  Take  a 
whole  worm — not  mutilated— of  medium  size,  and  enter 
the  point  of  the  hook  about  midway  or  rather  nearer  the 
tail,  and  passing  it  along  bring  it  out  a  half  inch  or  so 
from  the  head ;  the  tail  will  then  move  as  well  as  the  head, 
showing  signs  of  life;  and  when  it  loses  its  vitality,  it  is 
still  attractive  when  drawn  against  the  current.  Whether 
wading  or  from  the  bank,  cast  in  at  the  head  of  the  rift, 
and  let  the  bait  drift  along  near  the  bottom,  drawing  it 
back  occasionally  to  make  it  show  plainly.  When  a  minnow 
is  used  for  bait  in  still  water,  the  hook  should  be  passed 
through  its  back ;  if  in  rapid  water,  through  the  upper  and 
lower  lips;  or  it  should  be  bridled  as  described  in  Rock- 

iishing. 

After  fishing  the  main  current,  try  the  sides  of  the  rift. 
On  feeling  a  bite,  draw  away  a  little,  coaxing  the  fish  to  lay 
hold  more  vigorously;  by  his  resistance  and  pulling  hard 
you  can  ascertain  when  he  is  securely  hooked ;  then  draw 


THE    SALMON   FAMILY. 


278 


him  towards  the  shorp  nnri  Hft  u- 

kand  down  .he  tZj  '""  .■"""  °"'' ""-^  ^W'^g  your 

sawing  It  backwards  and  forwards  i,  .n  .«•  .  ' 

fishing.  forwards,  is  an  effective  way  of  bait- 

When  fishing  with  a  grasshopper,  the  sinker  may  be  dis 
pensed  with;  and  with  this  bait  the  stqi  parts  of^S  7 
-y  be  fished,  where  a  Trout  would  .     C  kd^to  t T" 
worm  than  in  brisk  water  '  ^  ""  *^^^  ^ 

themselves  for  «ve  or  d^  10!^™  ™  '"  '""■«^ 

two  in  moderately  c„  iTea^ha  ,1  '  T  '^  '^P'  "  "^^  "' 
be  c>o.d  at  nig^e  ^7':; ^^Zlf  VV^' 
'-a  bag  may  be  pinned  or  buttons!  .oXwa  Janl/  f 
pantaloons,  with  the  mouth  of  th.  K.  ™'"""'"'  »'  "m's 
i^hes  of  the  toe  of  a„  u  ,  *  "P""-  ^°'"'  <>'  ^^^ 
place  of  .  flann:  U,  ''"""^  ^'"''"^  ^"'  ^^^  » 

In  Ashing  the  ponds  of  Long  Island  T  1,. 
used  by  some  anglers.    There  t  M       JT  ""^  "  ^°'" 

in  bait-flshing,  for  by  riv.W  "'"*  '^  *  landing-net 

o'  *"^  "y  giving  time  enough  anrl  q  iw+i 

a  Trout  will  hook  himself  very  secnrd.  '  "  °°""'«' 

Having  said  thus  much  on  Uh  ficT,; "     t  , 
r^  %-«»hing  for  another  oh^  ^l-^^^  H!  *^  -"f 

"  ■»  no  abstruse  scienc,  notwiths::dfng     ,,1:7:;'''! 

essays  on   the   snbiPPt    „  j  .  ^  ®  iearued 

We',  endeavor  t:l:f.hrT^«  ""'  '"""  '"'^^  "" 

confidence  in  2,^^  f'  '"<'""™"'  *"'  •■«  -i»  lose 

^^  ground.ba,.,  and  resort  to  it,  not  for  sport, 


274 


AMBBICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


but  only  in  time  of  a  freshet  to  get  Trout  for  his  dinner  or  a 
roast ;  and  that  the  only  tise  he  will  find  for  his  bait-hooks, 
will  be  to  give  away  to  the  little  barefoot  boys  and  girls  he 
may  meet  on  the  stream,  trying  to  catch  a  string  of  Trout  for 
their  supper. 


Pj#, 


nner  or  a 
lit-hooks, 
i  girls  be 
Troat  for 


CHAPTER   X. 
SALT-WATEE  FISH  AND  Vi^ium. 


"tJKOBklloiABH,  gave  to  thy  wild  waves'  play, 

Time  writes  no  wrinkle  on  thine  azure  brow- 
Bach  as  creation's  dawn  beheld,  thou  rollest  now. 

"Thou  glorious  mirror,  where  the  Almighty's  form 
Glasses  .taelt  in  tempesU ;  in  all  time,— 
Calm  or  convulsed— in  bree«e,  or  gale,  or  storm, 
Icing  the  pole,  or  in  the  torrid  clime 
Dark  heaving- boundless,  endless,  and  sublime. 
The  image  of  eternity,  the  throne 

Of  the  Invtsible." 

Btbor. 


CHAPTER  X. 

8ALT-WAT3B  PISH  AND  FlSHINO. 

Introductory  Remarks. 

The  Sheepsbead. 

The  Weakpish,  or  Saw- Water  Trout. 

The  Barb,  or  Kinofish. 

The  Spot.  Piofish,  or  Goody. 

The  Croaker. 

The  Redpish  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 

The  BwEnm,  or  Snapping  M ackereu 

The  Spanish  Mackerel. 

The  Pompano  (Sopthern). 

The  Druufish, 

The  Flounder. 

The  Sea-Bass. 

The  Blackfisr. 

The  Mullet. 

The  Tom  Cod,  or  Frostfish. 

The  Poroy. 

The  topography  of  our  coast  shows  lon^  strpt.l,       4^  , 
Barb,  Coaker,  Pi,«.h,  p^^^,,,  S^^ZT^'Zet 

s:;  tTeC ":"' '"™'  '^-""^ ««'"-'  * " 

majr  even  feel  the  »lt  spray  which  flies  over  the  narrow 

(277) 


278 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


rtrip  of  sand,  sprinkling  his  face,  as  he  sits  in  his  boat  and 
makes  havoc  amongst  the  fins. 

Along  our  seaboard  there  are  places  of  summer  resort, 
where  hotels  and  boarding-houses  are  kept  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  those  who  come  to  shoot  and  to  fish ;  the  visitors 
frequently  bringing  their  families  to  enjoy  the  bathing  and 
invigorating  sea  air.    To  almost  any  of  these  let  one  who  is 
fond  of  fishing  repair  between  the  middle  of  July  and  first  of 
September.    Let  him  provide  himself  with  a  stout  rod,  good 
flax  line,  large  hooks,  a  felt  hat,  a  red  flannel  shirt,  and  a  few 
"  store  clothes"  for  Sunday  and  dress  occasions,  and  he  will 
have  fishing  to  his  heart's  content— big  ones,  and  plenty  of 
them.    If  he  takes  the  advice  of  old  fogies,  or  the  man  who 
furnishes  his  boat  and  bait,  he  will  fish  with  a  hand-line. 
If  he  follows  the  instinct  of  the  true  angler,  he  will  fish  with 
rod  and  reel,  and  as  a  consequence  his  enjoyment  of  the  sport 
will  be  enhanced. 

Of  all  places  within  easy  distance  of  our  city,  commend  me 
to  Long  Beach,  where  the  accommodations  are  good  (barring 
the  butter),  mosquitoes  few  (if  the  wind  is  not  off  land),  and 
the  landlord  one  of  the  most  obliging  and  appreciative  men 
in  the  world,  as  to  the  requirements  of  the  angler  or  shooter. 
And  moreover  where  Sammy  Shourds  is  always  on  hand. 
Sammy  can  find  soft  crabs  when  no  other  man  can ;  besides 
he  knows  all  the  fishing-grounds,  and  when  the  tides  suit  at 
each ;  when  to  go  on  the  flats  for  Weakfish,  when  in  the  Cove 
for  Barb,  when  in  the  channel  for  Sheepshead,  when  to  the 
flat,  sedgy  islands  for  Eockfish,  and  when  to  squid  for  Blue- 
fish.  Here,  according  to  the  adjudication  of  the  aforesaid 
Sammy,  a  friend  and  myself  caught  with  our  rods  in  three 
mornings  (fishing  four  hours  at  each  time),  over  five  hundred 
pounds  of  Weakfish  and  Barb,  and  touched  up  the  Eockfish 
in  the  afternoons  at  the  islands. 


'ALT   WATER    PISH    AND   PISHING. 


279 


THE  SHEEPSHEAD. 

Sargisovis:  Mitchil 

jaw  to  the  first  spine  of  the  anal  thpn..       "^  ™  *^"  ^^^«' 

dark  gray  on  the  ba.k;  ride,  silvery-  belZt^l  "^ 
seven  dusky  bars,  reaching  from  the  to,  !f  ^.  v,  /  """  "' 
to  the  bottom  of  the  beli;.    T^ett  Z  "'""^ 

front  of  i..h  „p^r  and' o^  aw :  t:::;i'""T. '" 

-:.aXran:t:erj:;:rifrh  t  '-■- 

will  of  the  fish  in  o  ^  '  "^^'"^  ^^««e,  at  the 

'»  =«  S^oove;  the  pecto^  IrttXldt "' ^''"'^^ 
'ays;  ventrals  have  one  spine  an,I  fi  '"'"="' 

wWoh  i.  forked,  has  seZeen  "^■''  "'  *»  '='"'^'^' 

Tbese  fish  arrive  in  the  bays  and  inlets  on  the  coast  of  New 


280 


AMERICAN  ANOLER'S  BOOK. 


Jersey  as  early  as  the  middle  of  May,  and  are  frequently  found 
in  large  schools.  As  a  general  rule,  they  bite  more  freely  at 
a  bait  as  the  season  advances.  They  are  emigrants  from 
southern  waters,  and  all  adults,  the  average  weight  being  six 
or  seven  pounds,  though  sometimes  they  are  taken  even  as 
high  as  fifteen  pounds.  According  to  my  theory,  which  is 
founded  on  personal  observation,  those  found  in  this  latitude 
are  the  surpl\is  production  of  more  southern  waters ;  for  most 
of  the  Sheepshead  in  the  Mobile  and  New  Orleans  fish-mar- 
kets are  small,  from  a  half  to  two  pounds  in  weight,  and  sub- 
jects for  the  gridiron  rather  than  the  pot.  The  restaurants 
of  New  Orleans  are  famous  for  Sheepshead,  where  they  are 
broiled  whole  or  split,  and  served  up  to  a  charm ;  and  with  a 
modicum  of  claret  after  his  gumbo,  a  moderate  eater  is  apt  to 
get  no  farther  into  the  bill  of  fare  than  "fish." 

The  food  of  this  fish  consists  almost  entirely  of  molluscs  ; 
the  soft-shell  clam  is  therefore  the  usual  bait.  It  is  said,  by 
the  "  'longshore"  men  of  New  Jersey,  that  it  can  even  crush 
a  hard  clam  ;  this  can  hardly  be  doubted,  when  the  immense 
muscular  power  of  its  jaws,  and  the  peculiar  arrangement  of 
its  incisors  and  crushing  teeth,  are  considered.  The  teeth  in 
the  throat  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Drumfish.  The  sheep- 
like teeth  in  front,  from  which  it  has  received  its  name,  are 
well  adapted  to  nipping  off  the  barnacles  and  shell-fish  that 
adhere  to  sunken  rocks  and  timbers. 

In  fishing  for  Sheepshead,  it  is  a  common  practice  in  lower 
Virginia  and  other  southern  waters  where  they  are  found,  to 
drive  down  stout  stakes,  forming  an  enclosure;  to  these 
different  species  of  molluscs  will  attach  themselves  in  a  few 
months,  and  attract  the  Sheepshead.  When  they  have  made 
it  a  place  of  resort,  the  fisher  ties  his  boat  to  a  single  stake 
on  either  side,  at  a  convenient  distance,  and  throws  his  bait 
towards  the  pen. 


SAIT.WATBB    ri8H    AND   FISHINO. 


281 


In  a^hmg  w,.h  a  hand-line,  which  i,  the  u,„.l  „«le  of 

tak.ng  1,™,  the  Sheepshead  gives  one  or  two  dight  pr,mo„i. 

ory  jerks,  and  then  a  steady  p„„,  when  the  iisheLn  gath I 

"  h,s  Ime  as  fast  as  possible,  the  flsh  eoming  along  with  a 

heavy  drag.  When  he  approaches  the  boat,  ther!  is  a  dt^^l 

0  ntest;  there  ,s  ™„eh  probability  of  his  breaking  the  ho.  k 

the  fisher  takes  m  slaek,  or  lets  the  line  run  through  hil 
Angers,  aa  the  action  of  the  flsh  dictates,  and,  when  a  prope 
oppo«un.ty  offers,  throws  hi™  into  the  boat,  where  he Zl 
unW  the  transfer  to  a  new  element  deprives  bin,  of  life 

taken  with  lod  and  hue,  as  they  are  by  New  York  angler,  i„ 
the  ™.n,ty  of  that  city.  About  rocks  and  precipitous  banks 
when  there  are  no  obstructions  to  a  fair  contest  a  stou  ro^' 
o   eleven  or  twelve  feet,  a  strong  hemp  li„e  on  a  good  Iw 

Hrp'uin  'af rr^'  ^-v'™'  ^'-«-''  >■»-"''.  -  - : 

s« rZ  h  !  1  '■  r'  "^'^^'  •""  ''  '"'  -"-  'o  *e 

sumce,  his  lunges  are  quick  and  desnprnf*>  •  .au  u    ^ 

wuh  the  spring  of  a  rod  than  with  a  hand-lina),  he  at  las 
gives  in;  and  when  he  is  liftpH  „i,     j  ,"*'"'  "  "»' 

he  weighs  something  '""■^'  ""^  "  ^""  ''-^^'. 

An  accomplished  angler  of  New  Orleans,  whose  hospitalitv 

TthJllTwii^Hi  ri^ ''-'-'-'  ^-'-"'^ 

with  n  fl„  ,        ,.    ,  '       """Pany  with  Black  Bass 

branches  ?/,"     It  ""'  "'^'  ""^^  ''"  »'"'"'  *«=  '"ok 
branches  of  trees  that  have  fallen  in.    From  this  it  would 

appear    hat  they  habitually  come  into  brackish  w  ter   L 
-Ives  to  any  sfck  or  branch  in  the  water  along  the  southern 


i/#' 


282 


AMERICAN    ANGLBR'9    BOOK. 


coast ;  and  that  Bass,  whose  natural  habitat  is  fresh  water, 
meei  them  here  on  common  feeding-ground. 

Mr.  Bull,  a  noted  angler  of  New  Orleans,  assures  me  he  has 
taken  fourteen  Sheepshead,  whose  average  weight  was  .seven 
pounds,  in  the  course  of  an  afternoon's  fishing  at  the  break- 
water, not  over  a  mile  from  the  steamboat  landing,  at  the  ter- 
minus of  the  Ponchartraih  Railroad.  The  bait  he  uses  are 
large  shrimp,  fiddlers,  young  crabs,  and  muscles.  After  the 
prevalence  of  strong  south-easterly  winds,  large  schools  have 
been  known  to  come  in  shore  along  the  piers  of  the  above- 
mentioned  landing,  and  numbers  of  them  have  been  taken  for 
some  days,  when  they  suddenly  disappear  in  search  of  other 
feeding-grounds. 

The  excellence  of  this  fish  is  so  universally  conceded,  that 
I  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  say  a  word  in  praise  of  it, 
whether  boiled  or  baked.  It  is  considered  by  some  equal  to 
Salmon,  but,  like  "Midshipman  Easy,"  I  am  disposed  to 
"  argue  that  point." 


8ALT-WATBB    FI8  H    A  ND    P  is  H  I  N  O. 


288 


WEAKFISH.  SQUETEAQUE.  SALT-WATEE 

Otolithua  reijalis ;  C  u  v  i  e  r. 


TEOUT. 


of  this  Da  J    Th       r         '''''^'''^'  ''^^'^  ^^^"^«^  ^t  tbe  top 
s  found  onlvi-n  +1.  ,  ""°"« '  tQat  a  <Aafomm/s 

o»  .ha  upper  half  of  ^  body,  as  3>  1    1  .rrV't 

rt;;rro::i:-— ---^^^^^^^ 

The  specie,  of  our  coast  differs  from  .hose  of  the  same  genu. 


284 


AyfmiCAN    AIf<*LER'8    BOOK. 


found  it!  Europe ;  the  former  having  canine  teeth  only  in  the 
M^jer  jaw,  whilst  the  lattc.   have  them  in  both  upper  and 

lowM 

The  Bubjeci  of  these  TGrnaTka—Otoliiu  ua  regalia— is  a  fish 
of  groat  beauty  as  regards  its  colors  and  proportiv^ns.  The 
tints  are  difficult  to  describe ;  there  is  something  of  ti  green 
tint  with  (jarnato  gleamings  above  and  along  the  lutoral  line, 
pearly  or  bright  metallic  reflections  about  the  throat  and 
head,  and  irregular  dusky  markings,  inclining  to  the  forma- 
tion of  oblique  lines,  on  the  back  and  sides;  the  belly  is 
white ;  head  sharp  and  long ;  mouth  largo,  upper  jaw  armed 
with  long,  sharp,  recurved  teeth.  Form  elliptical,  slightly 
compressed  ;  back  somewhat  arched.  Fins ;  first  dorsal,  nine 
spines ;  second,  one  short  spine  and  thirty  rays ;  pectorals, 
sixteen ;  ventrals,  one  spine  and  five  rays ;  anal,  one  spine 
and  thirteen  rays ;  the  caudal  has  seventeen  rays,  and  is  very 

slightly  convex. 

Wkakfishino. — No  salt-water  fish  of  this  latitude  affords 
more  sport  than  this  big-mouthed  denizen  of  our  bays ;  and 
it  is  only  the  freedom  with  which  he  lakes  the  bait,  and  the 
gieat  numbers  that  are  caught,  that  causes  Woakfishing  to  be 
undervalued.  Though  he  has  not  the  strength  and  endurance 
of  the  Uockfish,  his  first  rush  is  not  less  vigorous;  and  as  his 
mouth  is  somewhat  tender,  it  is  necessary  to  give  a  fi^h  of 
two  pounds  some  line.  His  first  dash  is  from  the  boat  u  d 
ten  yards  of  line  will  be  run  out  in  d  "jiffy;"  he  fights  h^II 
and  at  long  range  if  you  allow  him  line,  but  bear  wcii  on 
him,  as  the  least  slacking  of  the  line  gives  him  a  chance  to 
disengage  *he  hook,  which  he  sometimes  attempts  to  do  by 
jumpinjr  a;.   <'*>  the  v^-^ater  and  shaking  his  head. 

If  anglir ,;  ^  h  %  B  >^X  it  should  not  be  at  more  than  three- 
fourths  tho  ^c!  h  ji  thewft  .-.  With  a  large  float,  and  a 
quarter  or  lialf  ov.iqe  bullet  tor  a  sinker,  you  may  allow  your 


IsW 


«ALT.WATEF    FISH    AMP    FISHING. 


285 


t  u,  fl.sh,„g  over  „„r„  groun.l  tl,„„  wl,e„  „,.,|i„,  „.  .h.,  „,„ 

o  y„u,.  r.xi  w.th  ,.„ly  a  ,i„k„,.  „„„  „ .„„,  „,  ^  ^.^_^ 

«  .11  n,„™  „,.,„,,ed  M  you,  ii„e  i,  ,^|,,i  i„     ^„ 

P^^m  -vh..,,  the  fl„h  .r.  ,c«.t„«,,  i,  to  ^.  „  f,,  „,        ■^" 

»w  .  le  vnd  then  g,vmg  two  or  three  turns  of  your  reel- 
ovank,  „ra„,„g  .ha  bait  home  by  degr«,s.  Thi,  p  J,,  though, 
«  dyucfouabla  .f  there  are  weed,  or  much  g^a.  floating 

TACKLE.-A  .tout,  pliant  rod  of  twelve  feet,  with  a  stifflsh 
ip;  an  e.u,y. running  reel,  with  fifty  to  a  hundred  yards  of 

ii:;  roo."  """"  '•'"'  "^^^  "■»  •««'"  ^'■™'''  ^^  - 

BA,T8.--Soft  erabs  beyond  all  eompariaon  are  the  most 
oe  ta,n;  .hough  a  white  piece  of  (Ish-bai.,.  with  the  skin 
adhermg  to  make  it  stay  „„  .he  hook,  or  even  the  eye  of  the 
f'-h  will  answer.  If  they  are  well  on  the  feed 

Great  numbers  of  these  fish  are  taken  with  the  hand-line 
by  what  .s  called  "drifting:',  that  is,  to  sail  into  a  school  of 
them  ,„  a  t.deway  aud  letting  the  sheet  go,  allow  the  boa.  to 
dr  ft  wh, le  you  fish  over  the  sides  at  half  depth.  If  ,he  boat 
dnft  faster  than  the  school,  she  is  put  about  and  the  fish 
found  again. 

The  flesh  of  the  Wenkflsh  is  not  held  in  „,ueh  esteen,  when 
Uherflshare  to  be  had,  aud  soon  spoils  after  being  uken 
though  ,t  ,s  r,ch  and  gelatinous  if  it  is  eaten  soon.    They  2 
generally  fried  or  broiled.  ' 


angling  f;.  different  kinds  Tf  fi  h  a  d  wo    /?"     '  "  "'  """^'^  "" 

rally  appreciated.     Most  „    o!  l"    Ih  "  "'  '"'^^  '*  '^  °"*  «^°" 

on/.k   «    .  .        .  ^'^"^  ^"'^  '''■«  predatory  in  their  habit« 


286 


AMERICAN    ANGLBR'R    BOOK. 


THE  BAEB  OE  KINGFISH. 

Umbrina  nebvlosa :  Storer. 

There  are  two  species  of  Barb  or  Whiting  described  by 
Dr.  Holbrook,  with  various  synonyms  to  each ;  the  specific 
name  of  the  northern  species,  however,  signifying  cloudy, 
adopted  by  Storer,  in  his  report  on  the  fishes  of  Massachu- 
setts, will  strike  the  angler  as  the  most  appropriate  for  the 
animal  figured  above. 

Umbrina  Uttoralis,  dedcribed  by  Dr.  Holbrook,  is  peculiar 
to  the  waters  of  the  South  Carolina  coast,  and  said  to  be 
seldom  taken  with  the  hook.  It  is  entirely  white  and  silvery, 
without  the  clouded  markings  of  the  northern  species.  The 
fish  he  describes  as  Umbrina  albumus,  is  identical  with  the 
animal  pictured  above;  both  species  are  called  Whiting  at 
Charleston. 

This  fish  ( Umbrina  nebrdosa)  has  a  body  elongated  and  taper- 
ing, the  section  nearly  sub-triangular ;  back  gracefully  arched; 
belly  nearly  staight;  color  gray,  with  purplish  reflections. 
There  are  six  or  more  oblique  bars  over  the  back  and  sides ; 
belly  clouded  white ;  head  small ;  mouth  small,  and  beneath: 


SALT-WATER  Pish  and  pishing. 


287 


rZ  of  7  """  ""'"  '"^  «""'  *""  -  -  d-bt  an 

ZXtisl  '  7  T'  ""'  """"""«  "^  f-^-  I'»  average 
weight  1,  a  pound,  though  sometimes  taken  as  hifih  as  tw! 
pou,^s  F.„s:  fl„.  dorsal,  ten  spines,  of  whieh  the  thLd  i! 
much  attenuated,  terminating  i„  a  filament;  second  d  r  J 
ne  weak  spme  and  twenty.flve  rays;  ventra  s,  one  spine  and 
five  rays,- pectorals,  .„„.^  '  ?■"«  -^ 

rays ;  caudal,  eighteen  rays.  ^ 

Professor  Baird  says  the  young  „f  this  flsh  have  been 
.^eu  at  Baesley's  Point,  near  Great  Egg  Harbor  TheTr 
almost  to.,  disappearance  from  our  bayst  sucoJle! 
ner.  and  then  their  sudden  reappearance,  has  led  me  t:  the 
bel>  f  that  most  of  them  are  emigrants  from  the  south  L  ke 
mos  of  .he  Scienoids,  they  are  evidently  mollusc-eating  fl  h 

the  mouth,  however,  and  the  absence  of  crushing  teeth  and 
mcors.  suggest  the  belief  that  they  feed  entirely  on  seedling 
m»sc.es  and  clams,  and  small  Crustacea,  They  are  found 
--..  .n  the  coves,  and  on  the  sand-bars  aud'fl:.  whTr 
there  ,s  Imie  current,  and  not  oilen  in  the  channels  or  deep 
tideways.  ^ 

Babb  F,sh™g_Iu  angling  for  this  fish,  a  good  bass  rod 
of  twelve  feet  .s  best;  a  light  sinker  is  sufficient,  sav  a  bullet 
of  a  quarter  or  half  ounce,  which  should  be  placrf  at  the 
bottom  of  the  reel.line,  where  two  snoods,  one  of  twelve  and 
one  o    twenty.fonr  inches,  with  No.  1  „r  0  Kirby  hooks 
■^l|"uW  be  attached.    The  sinker  should  touch  the  bottom 
"here  the  fish  generally  s^-eks  its  food.     When  on  the  «' 
..  «.es  the  ban  without  nibbling,  but  frequently  there  is  .' 
,.a.„,o„,tory  shake,  then  a  vigorous  p„,l,  and  under  goes  th; 

o  the      rf,„,^^d„,„„,,^y^  ^,^^  ^^^^^_l^^_^  ^^^  le,„t  slackFn. 
"f  the  Una,  and  he  is  off  again,  and  in  the  second  round  il 


288 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


almost  as  game  as  at  first.  As  he  has  leathery  lips,  and  the 
hold  is  generally  strong,  he  is  lifted  in  with  small  risk  of 
losing  him. 

When  fishing  for  Barb,  it  is  well  to  use  a  No.  1  hook  at 
the  bottom,  and  loop  on  one  of  00  size  to  a  gut  length,  eighteen 
inches  or  two  feet  above  the  sinker,  for  Weakfish,  as  the 
angler  sometimes  takes  both  at  the  same  time.  Soft  crabs  or 
soft-shelled  clams  are  the  best  bait. 

This  fish  is  much  lauded  by  the  epicures  of  New  York, 
where  it  has  sometimes  been  sold  at  as  high  a  price  per  pound 
as  Sheepshead.  It  is  seldom  boiled,  and  is  better  cooked  in 
the  pan  or  on  the  gridiron.  It  has  a  peculiar  sweetness  of 
flesh  and  a  richness  of  flavor ;  as  all  fish  that  feed  on  m.olluscs 
and  Crustacea  have. 

When  on  a  visit  to  Long  Beach  in  August  1855,  a  brother 
angler  and  myself  had  great  sport  with  Barb  in  the  cove 
just  below  the  Hotel.  They  had  not  been  taken  in  numbers 
for  some  years,  and  had  become  comparatively  a  rare  fish, 
until  we  met  with  them.  In  a  few  hours  on  the  ebb  we  took 
upwards  of  three  hundred  weight  with  two  rods,  and  left  off 
from  mere  satiety,  for  the  certainty  of  hooking  them  as  fast 
as  our  bait  found  the  bottom  ceased  to  be  sport. 


SALT-WATER    FISH 


AND    PISHING. 


28U 


SPOT,  PIGFISH,  OR  GOODY. 

Uioatomus  obliquus :  Cuvier 

".ore  oblique  bars  exidfng  Clhe  ^Z  7  T  "  " 

-nd  dor.,,  one  .bo„  .pi„e  JIX^ZT^ 
«y«;  pectorals,  eighteen;  ven.rals,  onaapin^rdfo  rb    "^  T, 

^™'^w:::ttter""™r^"^»^^--^ 

Vork,  at  the  tile       oZ^t^'  t',^  ""'"'  '"'™'  ^- 

Ho.-oM„  bis  ichthSo^trr  ;:i:unrr 

tiie  common  name  of  Chub  whiVh  .f  ^^ 

fresb-water  angier  as  a  ..wf  l^Zr:"  """  ^"^ 
19  •     Ane  moat  common  name 


290 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


along  the  New  Jersey  Coast  is  "  Goody."  It  is  known  at 
Lewes,  Delaware,  where  it  sometimes  appears  in  great  num- 
bers, as  the  "  Spot,"  from  the  mark  near  the  gill-cover.  It 
frequently  happens  that  its  annual  visits  are  almost,  or 
totally  suspended  for  a  season  or  two.  Like  all  emigrants 
from  the  southern  part  of  our  coast,  it  is  more  abundant 
during  some  summers  than  others. 

From  the -description  received  from  Southern  friends,  of  the 
"  Pigfish"  or  "  Hogfish,"  so  renowned  in  the  lower  waters  of 
the  Chesapeake  for  its  flavor,  and  its  grunting  or  croaking 
noise  when  caught,  it  is  doubtless  the  same. 

Few  salt-water  anglers  fish  for  them  as  a  matter  of  choice, 
preferring  the  larger  and  less  edible  fish,  for  their  size,  as 
they  give  more  sport ;   while  the  little  Goodies  frequently 
linger  around  and  nibble  off  one's  bait,  when  the  Weakfish 
or  Barb  cease  biting.     At  such  time  it  is  well  to  be  provided 
with  small  perch-hooks,  which  can  be  substituted  for  the 
larger,  and  tied  on,  one  a  foot  and  the  other  two  feet  above 
the  sinker  (a  half-ounce  bullet);  and  baited  with  small  mites 
of  fish  or  soft  crab,  and  the  float  dispensed  with.    If  they  are 
frightened  away  by  the  reappearance  of  larger  fish,  they  will 
return  as  soon  as  the  school  passes  on,  and  bite  as  freely  as 
before.    In  angling  for  Weakfish,  I  have  often  made  a  profit- 
able operation  by  thus  changing  my  hooks,  catching  dozens 
of  these  delicious  little  fellows  expressly  for  the  pan.    For 
richness  and  flavor,  no  pan-fish  surpass  them.    The  hooks 
should  not  be  larger  than  No.  2  or  3  Kirby ;  the  long-shankerl 
or  what  is  called  "  weak-trout  hooks"  are  best.    They  strike 
hard,  pull  vigorously,  am'  bend  the  rod  well,  for  fish  of  sucli 
small  dimensions.     They  are  often  taken  in  company  witli 
small  Porgies  and  with  the  same  tackle.    They  are  frequently 
found  in  July  and  August,  on  the  flats  between  the  hotel  at 
Long  Beach  and  Tuckerton,  New  Jersey. 


SALT-WATER    piSH 


AND    PISHING. 


291 


THECROAKEK.    GRONIER. 

^icropor/on  undulatus :  Cuvier, 

My  acquaintance  with  thi'«  fl«i.  ^ 
mrsa-o  i-nToU    13      7  commenced   twentv-five 

years  ago,  in  Lake  Ponchartrai'n      J  u  .    "vc 

:'::^  '\  --  "^  '^e  u„u„„  S.J;  .1'; :: : 

Lake  Ponohartrain,  near  New  Orloans  " 

the  'r    Colo  '  T    ""■°"  -"'""  '™-  ■»'"»'«  -™  unde 

u„s    reaotang  below  the  lateral  line;    bellv  whitp      p- 

.  e  flrs.  dor.,  ba,  ten  3pi„e3,  the  .eeo'nd  t>L;5ht  Z' 

Fctoral.,  fourteen;  ventral,  one  ,pi„e  and  Ave  ray     I' 

wo  ,p,nes  and  eight  r.y. ;  eau.lal,  eighteen  raya     ThJre  "   ' 

«  or  three  longitudinal  row.  oi'  spots,  or  .Lte  bl     ,  I 

oil  the  dorsal  and  caudal  flns  "'oioncs, 

Croakers  are  taken  in  great  quantities  in  the  bays  and 

pa.c,.ris.ia„,the,a;irL';r;:zr't 


AMERICAN    ANQLBR'8    BOOK. 


fishing  for  them,  a  slight,  pliant  rod,  with  a  stiffish  tip, 
should  be  used,  with  or  without  a  reel  (though  the  reel  is 
preferable,  as  his  giant  congener,  the  Redfish,  may  take  a 
fancy  to  your  bait),  a  float  or  not,  as  the  depth  of  water,  the 
wind,  or  current  may  dictate ;  hook.  No.  2  or  3  Kirby ;  bait, 
shrimp,  crawfish,  or  soft  crab ;  the  first  is  preferable,  peeling 
the  shell  oft)  and  baiting  with  the  white  body. 

At  New  Orleans  anglers  expect  them  generally  from  the 
middle  of  April  to  the  first  of  May,  and  catch  them  in 
Lake  Ponchartrain  until  autumn,  I  have  anchored  off  the 
lighthouse  at  the  end  of  the  Shell  Road  a  mile  from  shore, 
and  with  a  pleasant  breeze  to  soften  the  heat  of  the  sun,  a 
light  fifteen  foot  cane  rod,  a  pitcher  of  ice- water,  a  good  segar, 
and  a  quiet  companion,  I  have  passed  a  pleasant  morning 
and  had  fine  sport. 

The  most  approved  way  of  cooking  Croakers,  as  adopted 
by  the  New  Orleans  restaurateurs,  is  to  fry  them  in  sweet  oil ; 
the  vessel  being  so  large  as  to  float  the  fish,  not  allowing 
them  to  touch  the  bottom  or  sides ;  cooked  thus  they  are 
highly  and  deservedly  prized. 


SALT-WATER    FISH    AND    PISHino. 


203 


REDFISH  OF  THE  GULF  OF  MEXICO. 

Corvina  ocellata. 

Holbrook  in  hi,  Uhthy.logy  of  South  Carolina,  says  of 
As  flsh    ..,t  „  of  a  beautiful  silvery  eolor  and  iridSe^ 
when  taken  from  the  water."    In  the\rulf  i,  i<,  .        .'?f 

^^  ana  retains  that  color  until  it  i/eS:::—^ 
above  appears  to  assume  an  entirely  different  tint  T  he 
neighborhood  of  Charleston. 

gulf,  at  Charlotte  harbor,  they  eome  into  shallow  water  in 

such  numbers  that  they  are  easily  speared. 
Although  many  persons  esteem  it  a  good  flsh  for  h„il- 

or  baking,  or  in  a  ..cubrion»  or  chowder,!  b.t!a  ™Xl 

s    es    s  rmgy  and  lacking  flavor,  and  in  no  way  com^b 
to  ,ts  httle  kinsman  of  frying-pan  celebrity,  the  Croaker 
Ihey  are  angled  for  with  the  same  tackle,  and  much  n  t  e 
same  way,  as  for  Barb  or  Weakflsh ;  they  generally  t,l!  T 
bait  near  the  bottom.  As  those  takeL  J^ZCllZ 

re  usually  large-sometimes  as  long  as  twenty.four  and  even 
tlnrty  mcbes-they  afford  fine  sport.    They  strike  boIdT 
and  run  off  thirty  or  forty  feet  of  li'e  at  the  first  dsh.;!'' 
..out   .s  fleshy,  they  are  seldom  lost  when  fairly  hold       ' 

■me,  No.  00  &rby  hook,  and  a  large  float,  are  generally  used 


294 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


BLUEFISH. 


SKIP-JACK. 


SNAPPING  MACKEREL. 
TAILOR. 

Temnodon  sallator. 

Body  obloag,  compressed,  thicker  above,  and  almost  as 
sharp  below  as  the  Shad,  though  the  belly  is  not  as  completely 
carinated.  Head  large,  profile  slightly  convex ;  mouth  large, 
lower  jaw  slightly  longer  than  the  upper;  both  jaws  are 
armed  with  straight,  compressed,  lancet-shaped  teeth,  the 
upper  jaw  having  also  an  internal,  but  less  extensive,  row ; 
the  vomer,  palate,  and  pharyngeal  bones  have  minute  brush- 
like teeth.  Branchial  rays,  seven.  Fins :  the  first  dorsal  has 
eight  weak  spines,  which  Ilolbrook  says  are  enclosed  in  a 
sheath  or  groove ;  this  I  have  failed  to  observe ;  the  second 
has  twenty-seven  rays;  ]  (H^tovals  sixteen  rays;  ventral,  one 
spine  and  five  soft  rays;  anal,  twenty-eight  soft  rays;  the 
caudal  is  deeply  forked,  has  twenty  rays,  and  is  covered  three- 
fourths  of  its  length  with  minute  scales.  Color,  green  on  the 
hack,  shading  gradually  to  a  silvery  white  on  sides  and  belly. 

This  fish  sometimes  reaches  the  extreme  length  of  three 
feet,  though  the  average  of  those  taken  in  our  inlets  and 
bays  is  not  over  two  or  three  pounds. 

Bluefish  are  found  all  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Maine 
to  Florida ;  the  smaller  fish  frequenting  the  bays  and  inlets ; 
the  larger  are  found  outside,  but  within  soundings. 


Sill.WAIJJB   PISH    ANB    FI8HIN, 


296 


Th.s  «  one  of  the  most  active  and  unyielding  «A  that 
™.     To  use  the  words  of  Nimrod  Wildfire,  •■  he  can  jump 
higher  and  come  down  ,,uiel.,r,  dive  deeper  and  stay  under 
onger,    than  any  other  salt-water  fish  of  its  size.    Look  at 
h,s  clean  budd  and  it  is  accounts  for;  his  narrow  waist  and 
dep^o,  hull  falling  ofT  sharply  as  it  approaches  the  keel 
onablmg  h.m  to  keep  well  to  windward,  as  if  he  had  Z's 
eentred,oard  always  down.  See  his  immense  propeller  behind  1 
No  fish  of  ,ts  size  IS  more  wicked  or  wild  when  hooked     I 
have  sometmes  struck  a  threcpound  Bluefish,  and  thought  I 
had  a  s,x.pou„d  Wcakflsh  on,  until  he  commenced  jumting 
and  after  g.vmg  him  considerable  play,  have  at  last  (with  fuli 
confidence  m  my  tackle)  drawn  him  in  by  sheer  force,  with 
his  pluck  not  the  least  abated. 

Though  the  Blneflsh  is  seldom  angled  for  "per  se"  fa» 
President  Tyler  used  to  .y),  with  rod  L  line,  hc'fr  qlw 

for  Weakflsh  or  Barb.  Then  look  out  for  your  snoodfon! 
n.p  with  his  sharp  incisors,  and  it  is  cut  off  "clean  as  a 
whistle  On  such  occasions,  brass  wire  or  gimp  snoods  are 
your  only  security. 

fish  ?T""'.T  ''^™"^«-The  usual  mode  of  taking  this 
fish  1  by  squiddmg.  The  sp.i^  is  generally  a  white  bone  with 
a  hook  at  the  end,  or  a  piece  of  pewter,  which  is  kept  bright 
by  scraping  it  occasionally;  the  line  is  of  strong  hemp  or 
cotton^  With  a  good  breeze  when  crossing  a  school  of  these 
fish,  the  sport  IS  highly  exciting,  and  great  numbers  of  them 
are  sometimes  taken. 

The  Blueflsh  is  not  esteemed  as  food.    It  is  extremely 
predatory  ,n  its  habite,  swimming  in  schools,  and  causing 
great  havoc  amongst  Mossbunkers.     Barb  and  Weakflsh 
even,  are  not  secure  against  the  attacks  of  the  larger  ones     ' 


296 


AMERICAN    ANQLBR'S    BQOK. 


SPANISH  MACKEREL.    BAY  MACKEREL. 

Cyhium  waculalnm :  Cuvier. 

No  adequate  idea  of  this  graceful  and  brilliant  fish  can  be 
conveyed  by  description  or  engraving,  to  one  who  has  not 
seen  it. 

Its  body  is  an  elongated  ellipse,  somewhat  comprosfc^i ;  its 
section  oval ;  head  small  and  long ;  mouth  large ;  each  jaw 
armed  with  long  pointed,  but  compressed,  teeth,  inclining 
forwards.  There  are  very  small  teeth  on  the  vomer,  palatine, 
and  pharyngeal  bones,  as  well  as  on  the  tongue.  Color: 
greenish-blue  on  the  back,  shading  away  into  a  grayish 
pearly  hue,  but  slightly  roseate  along  and  below  the  medial 
line ;  belly  white,  like  molten  silver  or  mother-of-pearl.  It 
has  a  series  of  rows  of  dark  but  shining  spots  extending 
along  the  back  and  sides,  from  the  pectorals  almost  to  the 
caudal.  The  first  dorsal  fin  has  eighteen  short  weak  spines; 
the  second  has  one  spine  and  fifteen  rays ;  pectorals,  nineteen 
rays ;  ventrals,  one  spine  and  five  rays ;  anal,  two  spines — not 
sharp— and  fifteen  rays ;  caudal,  twenty  or  twenty -two  rays. 
The  tail  has  a  carinated  projection  on  each  side,  extending 
along  the  peduncle  to  the  anterior  curve  of  its  caudal,  which 
is  deeply  lunate,  or  crescent-shaped. 


8ALT.WATBR    FISH    AND    FISHING. 


297 


.ixttrt^t?'  "'"•■  ""'  ""  "■'  ""^-'«  price  of 
jnches  ,o„,  e.elu.ve  of  the  ealta  12:^;^: 

stages  of  d«,ompo8,t.o-;  the  tails  of  those  last  swallowM 
had  scarcely  disappeared  do«r„  its  throat 

delicaces  of  "h„  It  k •  J  "^  "'  "'"  ^^^ 

Shad  or  Po„,; ao     Ya  :  ,  :T  "■;"""]!'"«  '""  ""> 
*u  .     1  '        ""^  ^^*^^^  on  British  Fi8hp^ 

»ys  that  the  Spanish  Mackerel  taken  „fi-  .t„  .^^^.t ' 

England  and  France  does  not  exceed  flfteen  inches,  a^d  s  an 

indifferent  fish  on  the  table. 

The  Spanish  Mackerel  is  truly  a  pelagian  fish,  and  seldom 
enters  even  o,,r  salt-water  bays  for  any  dist  nee  T^ 
-mparatively  scarce  in  this  latitude,  and  is  found  here  only 
in  August  and  September,  but  it  is  more  commo,    owl2 

he  south.    In  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  it  is  sometimes  takenC  tt 
tta:       *■  T'  ""  "'''"  '™«  "'-  -■>-  stet 

^2  ith  n^aX:;  .r:: '°  ?-  °^'-  ^ "- 

if  A,.  •  I,  ^^   ^*  °°  ^  P^i^"'  native  reed  Dole 

t  furnishes  nire  sport.    If  they  could  be  found  in  any  gre 

numbers,  and  were  fished  for  with  fine  tackle  and  all  Tht 

yng.    A  Salmon.rod  and  a  good  casting.line,  with  a  flv 
l:Zr    '"""  ''"'^™  "  '"^  -0'  would'-take'thel  Cith' 

pisorwriT^T"''''"  ^"^'' "" ''  "-'^ "°  »- 

mode   the  Iv         Ju  '"""  ""''"  ^"'"•"^'  ''^  "■«  """er 
«7ned     if  tilv."*  ""'""'  ^°  ^'"='™'  "  fl""^  are 

whe     t'is^u';'  ^"-""^^  "'*  ""^  "f  f-"  'emon 


2tf» 


AMERICAN    ANQLBR'S    BOOE. 


THE  POMPANO.    CREVALLIL 


BothrolomoeuM  pampanua :   Cuviir. 

This  fish  has  not  been  described  in  any  previous  American 
work  on  Angling,  and  is  unknown  to  the  piscine  epicure  of 
the  north,  unless  he  has  had  the  good  luck,  in  some  southern 
tour,  to  test  its  exquisite  delicacy  and  flavor.  For  these 
reasons  T  take  pleasure  in  giving  it  a  place. 

The  Pompano  is  a  .species  of  the  Mackerel  family,  and  no 
doubt  a  free-biting  fish  ;  though  the  fact  of  its  feeding  at  the 
bottom  must  make  it  a  fish  of  less  interest  to  the  angler  than 
its  congener,  the  splendid  Spanish  Mackerel,  which  lives  on 
the  small  fry  that  swim  near  the  surface. 

I  have  often  desired,  but  never  had  the  good  fortune,  to 
examine  a  specimen  just  taken  from  the  water,  as  those 
brought  to  New  Orleans,  where  I  have  .seen  them,  had  been 
caught  some  hours.  I  have  iherefore  given  a  reduced  copy 
of  Dr.  Holbrook's  representation  of  this  fish,  without  his 
scientific  description,  believing  that  the  wood-cut  will  convey 
a  more  correct  idea  of  the  Pompano  to  the  angler  than  ii 
scientific  account  of  it.     The  naturalist  just  mentioned  says ; 


M 


SALT-WATER    Fis„    ANUFI8IIING. 


299 


dunng  the  summer  or  late  in  October,  and  even  longer  if  the 
-mnjer  .  warm.     It  feeds  On  various  kinds  of  mollu  e 
as  well  ascrustaceous  animals,  and  takes  the  ho.,k  g.d   ! 
when  baited  with  clams,  shrimp,  &c.,  &c !'  ^ 

This  fish  sometimes  grows  to  the  length  of  twenty  inches 
though  fifteen  is  as  long  as  the  average.  ' 


THE  DRUMFISH. 

P^joniaa  chromit :  CoTim. 

The  prominent  clmracterinies  of  this  '.big  fish"  are  th, 
number  oe,rri  „„,„  .,,  „„„,„„,  „  blaclcV.  neT 

u     .1,  „  leng.,,  of  f„„  f^,  „„,  ^  ^^^        of  seventy  po™ 
,  .rawinc,  It  in.     When  a  Drum  is  hooked  there 


THE  FLOUNDER. 

The  Flounder  can  hardly  be  called  a  sporting  fish  •  still 
Nvhen  other  sport  cannot  be  had  it  .ff   a  '         ' 

one  who  angles  with  a  stiff  tip      I     Tl      T  '"'"^  *" 

of  excellent  flavor     Th    I  ''  ''''''  ^^"'  ^°^ 

™     ^^^  ^^^ge  ones  are  best  when  broiled. 


800 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


THE  SEA-BASS  AND  THE  BLACKFISH. 

These  are  taken  mostly  with  the  hand-line,  and  are  only 
sought  for  by  the  angler  when  fish  of  gamer  qualities  are  not 
to  be  found.  The  Sea-Bass  and  Blackfish  are  both  plucky 
fish.  They  are  good  in  the  pan,  being  firm  of  flesh.  A  rod 
with  a  stitf  tip  is  required ;  they  are  angled  for  without  a 
float.  A  sinker  or  dipsy  suitable  to  the  force  of  the  current 
is  required ;  the  hooks,  No.  1  or  0  Kirby,  made  of  stout  wire ; 
clams,  either  soft  or  hard  shell,  are  used  for  bait. 


THE  MULLET. 

De  Kay  mentions  four  species  of  Mullets :  the  Striped,  the 
White,  the  Spotted,  and  the  Rock  Mullet.  The  Striped 
Mullet  found  in  Lake  Ponchartrain  is  the  only  species  I  have 
ever  taken  with  hook  and  line.  It  is  a  shapely  fish,  elong- 
ated, with  the  line  of  the  belly  more  curved  than  the  back. 
Bluish  on  the  back,  silvery  sides,  with  rows  of  dusky  spots 
extending  from  the  opercles  to  the  tail.  It  has  two  dorsal 
fins,  the  first  with  four  weak  spines.  It  is  found  only  in  salt 
or  brackish  water.  The  fresh-water  fish  known  as  the 
Barred  Mullet,  which  never  takes  a  bait,  is  a  species  of  the 
Sucker  family. 

In  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  contiguous  waters.  Mullets  swim 
in  large  schools,  and  are  generally  taken  with  a  cast-net. 
Sometimes  they  appear  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  when 
they  v/ill  frequeiitly  jump  at  a  white  rag  or  cotton  wrapped 


SALT-WATER    FJSH   a'nd    FISHING. 


301 


person.  '        "'  "  ^"^  ^^^^^'  ^«  P^-^  by  some 


THE  TOM  COD,  OR  FROSTFISH. 

This  fish  is  very  abundant  along  the  New  Fn.lo  a 
in  autumn.     After  thp  fir.,  r     .  \  England  coast 

^iier  the  farst  frost  thev  beeomp  nlrr, 
m  shallow  water  nnri  «  •  ^  "ecome  almo..  torpid 

They  are  sometimes  taken  in  d  eHtiU  L  TT  "'" 
papist  in  using  a  .„d  in  „„  J^^  !  i'  X", ^7^ 
rod  should  be  ratbe,-  .rtiff.      j  ?       *'       ^  "P  °^ """ 

quickly  a,  ,Z  T  '         ""^  *°"'''  ^'"'^''  ^^arp  and 

TheW    "^       """  "'''  "'^  '"'"  ^"'  "™«i  avidity 

«ed,bnttHis.;orb.'^L::r::vrr%«'-"^^^'^ 

are  dryaad  unpalatable.  ^       ^  °^'^'""  ^'y 


THE  POKGY. 

Pagrtuagt/n.pa;  Cuvier. 

white.  "ZC  :::  «^^  "eny.snver; 

■■..olars  inside,    ^h    Tonsal  I     T     '"°"°" '"* '"""'^''^ 

thirteen  stout  spines  and,     ,       "^       "'  ™'""™''^'   has 

Pletely  in  a  live    Z      ^  ?•  '*  '''''  ^^'^  "'"-  "<""• 

ravs-    p^torfr  "'  "  *"'"''  »-"•  >■»»  --»teen 

.»,   pectorals,  seventeen,-    ventrals,  one  spine    and  five 


802 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


branched  rays;  anal,  three  spines  and  twelve  rays,  closing  in 
a  groove,  though  not  so  entirely  as  the  dorsal. 

This  sedate-looking  little  fish  is  taken  with  bottom  tackle. 
The  hooks  should  be  small  to  suit  the  mouth,  as  they  are 
great  nibblers,  and  often  annoy  che  angler  when  fishing  for 
Barb  or  Weakfish. 

The  Porgy  is  an  excellent  pan-fish,  and  would  be  more  in 
favor  if  it  was  not  so  common. 


osing  m 

a  tackle, 
they  are 
bing  for 

more  in 


CHAPTER   XI. 
FLY-l'ACKL 


E, 


*^P^^3^ 


"S»a,  Rweet  tbniBhM,  forth  and  alngt 
Have  you  met  the  honey-bee 
Circling  upon  rapid  wing 
Round  the  angler's  trysting-tree  ? 

Up,  sweet  thrushes,  up  and  see  I 
Are  tliere  bees  at  our  wil'.ow  tree! 
Birds  and  bees  at  the  trysting-tree? 

"Slug,  Bweet  thrushes,  forth  and  sing! 
Are  the  fountains  gushing  free? 
Is  the  soutli  wind  wandering 
Through  the  angler's  trysting-tree  f 
Up,  sweet  thruBiies,  tell  to  me  I 
Is  there  wind  up  our  trystlng-treot 
Wind  or  calm  at  our  trysting-tree  f" 
Stoddart. 

"And  the  pleasant  watercourses 
Vou  could  trace  them  through  the  valley, 
By  the  rushing  In  the  Spring-time, 
By  the  alders  in  the  Summer, 
By  the  white  fog  in  the  Autumn, 
By  the  bUck  line  in  the  Winter." 

LoNonuow. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

TBOUT  FLY-FISHma.-OUTFIT  AND  TACKLE 

eye  to  convenieDce  and  comfort  nrlH         7,'         ^'*^  ^" 

should  have  pocket,  on  the  inside  and  outside  of  the  skirt 

large  to  hold  a  fly.book.  In  the  choi,.e  of  his  dr^,,  ,/ 
angler  should  avoid  any  glaring  eolor,  en-ulatin!  ^^  2 
gray  m,sts  of  the  n>orui„g,  or  the  ■•  gloamin' "  itsT,;  "' 

VV  ading-Trousers  should  V.P  r.e  u 

— ,tostandtheusua,:e::a:d^z.::-^^ 

™.berso™ea„ds,ippe.,,a„diijti:;L':'::;':r: 

They  are  certainly  water-nroof  if  tl,.  wading. 

^.  *arp  stones;  L  in  th^r^f  J;;,: -,;^:7^ 

get  .n.    I  have  seen  an  angler,  who  insisted  on  using 

(305) 


806 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


tbern,  after  getting  a  fall,  lie  on  his  back  and  elevate  his 
heels  into  the  air,  forming  a  humanized  letter  ^ ,  and  the  water 
which  ran  out  of  his  boots,  ran  down,  or  rather  up,  his  back. 
Do  not  be  persuaded  to  try  a  pair  of  them ;  if  you  do,  to 
use  the  expression  of  an  Irish  friend,  "you  will  come  to 
grief;"  but  go  to  your  bootmaker,  and  get  him  to  make  you 
a  stout  pair  of  double-soled  lace-boots,  to  come  above  and  fit 
snugly  around  the  ankle ;  have  only  one  heel-tap,  and  stud 
the  soles  (not  too  thickly)  from  toe  to  heel  with  soft  iron  hob- 
nails, such  as  are  used  by  foundrymen  and  forgemen  to  pro- 
tect  the  soles  of  their  shoes  when  treading  on  hot  iron.    The 
soft  iron  of  which  these  nails  are  made  gives  a  firm  hold  on 
slippery  rocks.    Stout  woollen  socks  or  stockings   should 
invariably  be  used  to  wade  in ;  they  are  softer  and  feel  warmer 
than  cotton  when  wet. 

The  Creel  or  Basket  should  be  of  the  usual  shape,  to 
fit  one's  side,  and  of  capacity  for  fourteen  pounds  of  trout ; 
this  size  is  convenient  for  stowing  wading-shoes  and  trousers 
in,  and  a  bottle  of  claret  or  anything  else  may  be  securely 
rolled  in  the  trousers,  when  packing  up  for  an  excursion. 

The  "top-tile"  should  be  a  drab  or  light-gray  mixed  felt 
hat,  with  a  twisted  string,  as  well  as  a  band  (or  in  place  of  a 
band),  which  is  convenient  to  tuck  flies  under,  when  one  is 
changing  them,  and  does  not  wish  to  return  them  wet  to  his 

b  >ok. 

Landtng-Net.— I  have  tried  many  nets  that  were  recom- 
mended as  handy  and  easily  carried,  and,  after  many  experi- 
meats,  at  length  hit  on  the  following  simple  expedient,  which 
I  will  try  to  describe:  When  preparing  for  an  excursion,  put 
into  your  rod-bag,  or  lash  on  the  outside  of  it,  a  piece  of  rat- 
tan the  size  of  your  little  finger,  and  about  four  feet  long.  On 
arriving  at  your  quarters,  bend  it  in  the  middle,  and,  after 
slipping  the  net  on,  bring  the  two  ends  together  so  as  to  form 


TKOUT    FLY.TlSHl^o 


807 


the  bow,  and  again  at  .),»      ]  T  T       '"'"'^  '*■"<'  '><='»■■ 

-he.  .ab  .u,^  :r„  ir  i; :  ;*■  ^--^-^  ^^ = 

button  aewed  „„  ,he  bant  7'  suspended  by  a 

doe,  not  annoy  orTl^de  /  '""  ""'"  '"^'"  ""•"  '=»"-    I' 
-hen  reqni  J.  a  ^f  ^""  P-^'^-'  »'!  i><  ™dy  for  use 

.  handle  Jo;  IhTilrh  "'7    "  '""^  '"  '"■™^'-'  »d 
or  eight  inches  in  length,  is  sufficiont.     Where 


.>......,K.i„;,;t;:X":'ir''-- 

.  :«.■•^;:v-^--c:Sr 
nut  in  the  end  of  a  ferule  fa^fpn  ^         ,'^'^  ''  '^"^^  ^"to  a 

die.     The  h-mdl.  k  '"  '^^  '"^  ^^^  '^^  «^»<^^t  han- 

iue  nanaie  can  be  unsr-rf^w.^ri        j    i 

turns  out  the  ih«..lnt^  •  '        '  ^^  ^^  frequently 

"ui,  me  aosolute  necessity  of  hivi'n.r  a  i 

-^-'-e.nhispoe.ets,as;:nJr;^i!;:-;r; 


808 


AMBRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  shoemaker's  wax  pressed  between  the  folds  of  a  stout 
piece  of  leather,  for  it  may  be  that  he  will  have  to  splice  his 
line  or  rod,  or  repair  other  damage. 

Fly-Rods. — There  is  as  great  a  diversity  in  the  size  and 
flow  of  the  waters  where  Trout  are  found,  as  there  is  in  the 
size  of  the  fish  found  in  them ;  it  is  therefore  expedient  for  an 
angler  who  fishes  all  waters,  to  have  two  rods  for  casting  the 
fly.  For  the  rivers  and  lakes  of  Maine,  the  streams  of  Canada, 
and  wherever  Trout  are  found  in  large  waters,  a  good  stout 
rod  of  not  less  than  twelve  and  a  half  or  thirteen  feet  is  best ; 
it  should  weigh  at  least  twelve  ounces.  Though  withy,  it 
should  have  a  stiffish  tip;  the  line,  leader,  and  flies  required 
in  such  waters  being  larger  than  the  fly-tackle  in  general  use. 
For  the  lively  tributaries  of  the  Susquehanna,  Delaware,  and 
Hudson,  the  streams  of  New  England,  and  for  brook-fishing 
generally,  where  wading  is  necessary,  a  rod  from  seven  to 
nine  ounces  in  weight,  and  from  twelve  to  twelve  feet  four 
inches  long,  is  most  suitable.  A  rod  of  this  size  is  so  light, 
that  incessant  casting  does  not  weary  one,  and  the  size  of  the 
fish  does  not  make  a  rod  of  greater  power  necessary. 

Having  a  preference  for  such  streams  as  last  mentioned, 
I  give  my  notion  of  what  a  rod  for  such  fishing  should 
be,  from  one  made  for  my  own  use.  Using  a  scale  with 
minute  fractions  of  an  inch  aad  a  pair  of  callipers,  I  find 
the  diameters  at  various  distances  from  the  lower  end 
of  the  butt,  as  follows:. — The  grasp  of  the  rod,  say  at 
eight  inches  from  the  lower  end,  is  one  inch ;  at  eighteen 
inches,  3*;  at  twenty-four  inches,  ^^;  at  four  feet  (the  first 
ferule),  U ;  at  six  feet,  ^Hj ;  at  eight  feet  (the  splice,  or  upper 
ferule),  3'^ ;  at  ten  feet  (the  middle  of  the  tip),  ^V I  at  the 
extreme  tip,  3*3. 

The  butt  of  a  fly-rod  should  be  of  well-seasoned  white  ash, 
the  middle  joint  of  ironwood,  and  the  tip  of  quartered  and 


TROUT    PLY.PISHINtf. 


809 

spliced  bamboo.    The  mnnnor  ^e       i  ■ 

is  explained  in      '\   T  '^^^'''^  ''^'  ^^  '^'^  kind 

explained  m  an  article  on  "Bod  Making"  found  in  . 

subsequent  ehaDt(-r     Th^  .•  ,,  ^'  ^  ^ 

not  so  sfff  if  ?   ,  .  ^P  "'""^^^  ^'^  ""^  ^«^'^^«"*'  though 

Tere  of  tf        "  "  '^  "«^'^^^°  '"^'^^  ^'  ^^^  stouter  part 
>^ere  of  the  same  wood  as  the  middle  joint. 

beneath  the  ferui:  at  the      .         I        '  ^'''^  '^^  ^"^"°^^^^ 
rod  is  thuVr  ™'^""'  *h«"  balance"  of  the 

board"    to  """'  ^'^  '^"''  ^"^  i^«  --ght  "out- 

"t^::-ri:ti::n:ti;^^^ 

scarcely  felt.  ^   ''  *^"'  ^^^''^^^^d'  or 

To  avoid  the  difficulty  of  takin.,  ^ff  *i,         ,      , 
^A^  «  "^        taiiing  off  the  reel,  which  <5n 

to  which  the  reel  i!  f'led  k!?""  °"  """  °'  *^  »'"" 
feral,.  „n,l  K-  J-      V  by  slipping  it  under  the  butt 

ferule  and  bmdmg  down  the  other  end  with  a  «at  braid  or 
bucks.,  string,  three  or  four  turns  being  snfflcielt  ho^ 

To  provide  also  against  a  similar  inconvenience  I  make 
ach  joint  of  my  fly-rods  without  the  usual  wooderiL!, 
he  lower  end  of  the  outside  ferule,  and  consequentl/^  L 

:rrr„::  i;.';re"'°"  *r  ""■'  ">''»  "^' 
w.i.  da™p;:;d^'Xnf%tyr  ;r;X  J 

■ng  inside  the  wooden  socket,  will  stickLt;  and  the  antr 
"  -d-  the  necessity  of  taking  his  rod  home  unjoi,:  d 
or  doing  some  violence  to  the  ferules  ""Jomted, 

In  fly-rods,  the  ferules  which  join  the  different  pieces 

oget  er  are  generally  unnecessarily  long,  and  interfere  X 

the  play  and  spring  of  the  rod.    There  is  no  necessitv  for 

having  the  ferule  which  Joins  the  middle  piece  to  th"ta 

more  than  two  inches  long,  and  that  whioh'joins  the  mi!^ 


810 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


piece  to  the  tip  more  than  one  and  a  half  inches.  It  is 
better,  if  the  angler  ha.s  the  knack  and  patience,  to  join 
these  two  pieces  by  a  neat  splice  about  three  inches  long, 
which  should  be  closely  wrapped  with  coarse  waxed  silk. 
This  splice  will  be  all  the  more  secure  by  rubbing  each 
surface  where  they  are  brought  in  contact,  with  shoemaker's 
wa.\.  In  the  days  of  stage-coaches  a  rod  of  four  pieces  was 
most  convenient  in  travelling,  but  of  late  years,  when  most 
fishing-grounds  can  be  reached  by  rail,  one  of  three  pieces  is 
easily  and  safely  carried,  and  is  preferred  by  most  anglers,  on 
account  of  its  having  fewer  ferules.  The  rings  through 
which  the  line  passes  should  be  as  light  as  pos.sible,  gradually 
lessening  in  size  towards  the  end  of  the  tip,  where  they  need 
not  be  larger  than  to  allow  the  free  passage  of  the  line. 

Under  the  head  of  "Rod  Making,"  I  shall  endeavor  to 
impart  to  the  reader  whatever  .knowledge  of  suitable  wood 
and  materials  I  may  have  acquired  as  an  amateur  rod-maker; 
being  well  satisfied  that  the  angler  who  has  leisure,  and 
aptness  for  mechanism,  will  derive  additional  pleasure  from 
fishing  with  a  rod  of  his  own  make. 

English  writers  recommend  that  the  last  six  or  eight  inches 
of  a  fly-tip  should  be  of  whalebone.  The  objection  to  this  is, 
that  when  this  material  is  reduced  to  the  requisite  size,  it 
becomes  soft  and  inelastic  from  moisture,  and  brittle  from 
cold  or  dryness ;  in  its  former  condition  it  is  too  limp  to  lift 
the  line  from  the  wj^ter  with  a  proper  spring.  Some  autliors 
also  recommend  hollow  butts,  on  account  of  their  convenience 
for  carrying  extra  tips ;  they  are  now  as  obsolete  as  hazel 
tips  and  wooden  reels. 

Such  a  rod  as  I  have  recommended  might  not  stand  a  long 
day's  fishing  without  warping,  where  the  average  size  of  Trout 
are  such  as  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  speaks  of  taking  from  his 
noble  friend's  preserves  in  the  Coin  or  Wandle,  or  such  as 


TROUT    FLY-PISHINO. 


811 


are  to  be  found  occasionally  in  the  lakes  of  the  Adirondack 
Mountains  or  Maine  •  hut  f,.,.  i;  i,*  ^"ironuack 

oa,.i„g,  a  rod  of  tU   k.nd  i       ^    T'  '"""'•  """'  P'"""""' 
or  ,  Jter  rod    id  w  U       T     ''  """""^  '°  "  ''»"- 

-..  V .;  -  lr;z\::d-:v:t:",:: 

requires   wading.      Few  ani?Ipr«    „ft       i.     ■ 
ii,         1  8       'ow  anglers,   after  hav  ng  accustomprl 

themselves  though  „„,,  fo,  ,  ,  ,„  ca..i„glith  a  th. 
phant,  o„e.ha„dod  rod  „,  here  deacribed,  are  ever  Itflrf 
|o^^re..e  a  ..o-handed  rod.  or  o„e  o,  greater  ,e„:rtd 

There  are  many  highly.finished  one-handed  English  flv 

rods  ,,„ported  and  sold  by  .ackle  stores,  but  they    re  1 

m  bes,des  be.„g  heavier  by  one-third  than  is  neeelT 

nd  so  dogged  with  unnecessary  mountings,  reel-fa  te„ tls' 

ferules,  wrappings,  and  varnish,  that  the  pur  baser  is  a "'» 

abandon  them  after  a  few  seasons'  experienee,  for Tr^lTf  h 

own  designing,  or  his  own  malce  "  ro<l  ol  h„ 

=mall,  and  transverse  at  the  abutments  "  ""^ 

The  color  of  a  rod,  if  not  too  li»ht  is  of  li.,l    • 
it  maybe  stained  black  or  yellow     he  1<^        7^' ' 
never  be  produced  V  strong 'acids:  l^  a  :::::  .     "" 
the  strength  of  the  wood.    Dark  wood,    f  "^  '""'" 

raining.     A  neutral  tint  is    m,,aT«V™"' "''"'"  ■'° 
ofcom„,onwriting.fluid  of  blXh  tfnt  '  ""  "  '™  °°"^ 

Shellac,  which  is  soluble  in  alcohol  nr  ..i.      ■ 
preferred  to  copal  varnish  •  it  ,t  M  k  ' "' «'"'™"^ 

Slareof  the  JcoathTud    e     mldr""^"  '""'  "■' 

^.  a  iittie  segar  ashes  ouT:::  r;  iCb^:;::  t^ 

and  then  wiping  it  off  with  clean  water.  ^' 


812 


AMBRIOAN  ANGLBR'8  BOOK 


A  good  plan  for  protecting  a  rod  fVom  moisture,  i«  to  give 
it  a  thin  coat  or  two  of  boiled  linseed  oil,  after  staining  it, 
The  oil  should  be  applied  warm,  and  rubbed  well  into  the 
grain  of  the  woal.  It  should  dry  thoroughly  before  var- 
nishing. 

In  a  rod  for  my  own  use  I  prefer  a  tip  reasonably  stiff,  and 
the  middle  piece  somewhat  slight  below  tho  ferule  that  joins 
it  to  the  tip.  This  is  what  some  anglers  call  a  "  top-heavy" 
rod,  which  makes  casting  easier ;  the  tip  being  stiffish,  lifts 
the  line  mor-   readily  from  the  water. 

Rbbls.— A  small  light  reel,  which  will  hold  twcnty-flve 
yards  of  line,  is  best  for  Trout-fishing.  One  with  a  short 
axle,  which  brings  the  plates  of  the  rcol  close  together,  is  to 
be  preferred;  as  it  winds  the  line  more  compactly  on  the 
spool.  I  have  a  simple  click  reel  of  this  kind,  whicli  is  two 
inches  in  diameter  and  only  three-quarters  of  an  inch  between 
the  plates.  John  Krider,  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Second 
and  Walnut  streets,  Philadelphia,  generally  keeps  them  on 
hand,  or  will  have  them  made  to  order. 

Lines. — A  plaited  or  twisted  line  of  hair  and  silk,  tapering 
for  the  last  five  or  six  yard.s,  is  by  all  odds  the  b«"st  for 
Trout-fishing. 

Leadbrs.— A  leader  should  taper  gradually  from  the  end 
where  it  joins  the  line,  to  tl  end  to  which  the  stretchei 
is  attached,  and  should  be  two-thirds  or  three-fourths  the 
length  of  the  rod.  I  prefer  making  my  own  leaders  to 
buying  them  at  the  tackle  stores.  It  is  very  easily  done  by 
soaking  the  gut  well,  and  using  the  angler's  double  knot.  An 
illustration  of  this  knot  will  be  found  in  another  chapter. 

Flies.— In  giving  a  list  of  flies  best  adapted  to  American 
waters,  I  have  done  so  without  reference  to  the  opinions  of 
English  writers,  considering  many  of  their  rules  and  theories 
regarding  flies  inapplicable  to  our  country.    The  ob.servation.^ 


\       ivt 


^ 


TROUT  KMKs. 

I-  Oiugci-  llmki,..  ,.    „      , 

•-i-  «n...«c,  „«..K,...  '•     '7' '"• 

;t.  i.o,t..„.i.  '•  '"•'^■''  *'»• 

4.  A  I.al,„or.  '^  '^'"'""'  ^'""•>- 


TROUT   FLT-PISHINQ. 


318 


here  jotted  down,  are  rather  the  result  of  my  own  e.-:nerienoe 
a.  I  have  earned  them  on  the  stream  and  from  membeZ' 
o..r  httle  club  the  "  Houseless  Anglers." 
Mueh  perhaps  most,  of  the  theoretical  knowledge  of  flies 

from  the  wrutugso    our  brethren  of  the  "  Fast-anohored 

.  FH         7  ?■*""=■■  "=""   '•''^   C"«y.  Bonalds,   Bene 
EphemerVUnd  others,  with  interest  and  profit.    Though 
I  do  not  pretend  to  condemn  or  think  lightly  of  their  pre 
cepts  drawn  from  long  experience  of  bright  waters      d^^ 
mmates,  yet  .f  followed  without  modification  and  p  ope^ 
allowance  for  chmate,  season,  water,  and  insect  life  here  a 
contrasted  wuK  England,  the  beginner  is  apt  to  be  led  no 
many  errors,  corrected  only  by  long  sumn.crs  of  oxperie  t 
So  h    W.11  come  at  last  to  the  conclusion,  .hat  of  the  maX' 
fl.s  descr.be    and  illustrated  in  English  books,  or  exhibit  d 
on  the  fly.makers'  pattern-cards,  a  very  limited  assortn.cnt  is 
really  necessary,  and  many  totally  useless,  in  makiug  up  h 
book.    He  wzU  also  find,  after  the  lapse  of  some  years  that  „f 

e  great  variety  with,  which  he  at  'first  stored  "^V^ 
has  gradually  got  rid  of  at  least  three-fonrths  of  themt  he 
has  of  the  theory  of  strict  imitation,  and  the  routine  .'yl: 
^.at  .s,  an  exact  citation  of  the  naturu!  fly,  and  particuC 
fl.es  for  each  month),  and  settles  down  to  the  use  of  ah  " 

a^ortment,  considers  h.s  book  stocked  beyond  any  contin. 

An  extensive  knowledge  of  flies  and  their  names  can  hardly 
bo  of  much  pracfcal  advantage.  Many  a  rustic  adept  is 
.g-ant  of  a  book  ever  having  been  written  on  fly  fi  C 
a»d  knows  the  few  flies  he  uses  only  by  his  own  lim  ted  ■ 
vocabulary.  One  of  the  mos„  accomplished  fly.flshers  W 
-t  w.th  has  told  me  that  his  first  essay  was'with  t he  sc  ^ 


314 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  a  red-headed  woodpecker  tied  to  the  top  of  his  hook. 
Notwithstanding  all  this,  there  is  still  a  harmonious  blending 
of  colors  or  attractive  hues,  as  well  as  the  neat  and  graceful 
tying  of  a  fly,  that  makes  it  killing. 

With  these  few  preliminary  remarks,  I  shall  describe  only 
the  flics  which  I  have  used  successfully,  and  refer  the  reader 
to  the  English  works  on  angling  just  mentioned,  for  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  great  variety  known  by  so  many  different  names. 

Hackles  and  Palmers.  The  Red  EachU. — This  is  what 
the  renowned  Mr.  Convoy,  of  Fulton  St.,  New  York,  calls  a 
"  Journal-Fly,"  which  avc  suppose  to  mean  a  fly  for  general 
use.  It  is  one  of  the  indispensable  hackles.  All  fly-fishers, 
from  the  country  bobkin  to  the  most  experienced  angler,  have 
constant  use  for  it ;  few  make  their  whip  for  the  first  cast  of 
the  season  without  it.  It  is  particularly  killing  when  the 
water  is  discolored  by  a  freshet,  at  which  time  it  is  best  as  a 
stretcher  on  a  No.  4  hook,  and  dressed  Palmer*  fashion. 
When  used  as  a  drop-fly,  it  should  not  be  dressed  on  hooks 
larger  than  No.  6  or  7.  It  is  a  good  fly  from  April  to  the 
1st  of  September,  after  which,  as  Dr.  Bethune  righteously  says, 
no  "true-hearted  angler"  will  wet  a  line  in  a  Trout-stream. 
The  body  of  this  fly  is  made  of  red  mohair  or  the  ra veilings 
of  red  moreen  or  floss  silk;  sometimes  with  yellow  floss;  or 
the  hurl  of  the  peacock,  the  tail  tipped  with  gold  tinsel.  If 
dressed  as  a  Palmer,  the  body  is  wound  with  gold  or  silver 
thread ;  gold  is  best.  The  hackle  should  be  of  the  darkest 
natural  red,  not  dyed. 

The  Soldier  Hackh,  from  its  high  colors,  is  attractive  on 
dark  waters  and  deep  pools,  though  not  generally  as  killing 
as  the  Red  Hackle ;  hooks,  from  No.  2  to  6  for  stretchers,!  and 
from  6  to  9  for  drop-flies.f     It  is  better  dressed  as  a  Palmer, 

*  For  an  illustration  of  a  Palmer,  see  figure  4  on  plate  of  Trout-Flies. 
t  For  explanation  of  "  stretcher"  and   "  drop-fly"  or  "  dropper,"  see 
article  "  The  Whip,"  a  few  pages  further  on. 


TROOT   FIY-FISHIHO. 


815 


the  body  of  red  or  crimson  mokair,  wrapped  with  gold  or 

uaed  ,t  wuh  great  ^tisfaotion  on  the  subsiding  of  a  freshet 
when  the  water  had  become  «ther  bright  for  th:  Ked  Hack  e 
o„  the  same  s.zed  hook^  and  especially  aa  a  stretcher,  from  9 

flv  is  not"  "■■,  :  '"*''  °'  ■"""'  "PP'°^'-'«  »=-  for  this 
fly  .s  not  eas,Iy  obtained.    I  have  sometimes  found  it  on 

th   necks  of  capons,  which  are  brought  to  our  market  piled 

wtth  the  exceptton  of  the  neck  and  head!    What  is  termed  a 

fu  nacchackle  .s  frequently  used  in  tying  this  fly.  f„r  a  cock 

wUh  brow.  :  :.,,es  on  his  tail..overts  is  seldom  found     I 

nvar,ablj   ,,    ,,  .be  bcxly  of  the  Brown  Hackle  with  the 

darkcst^copper-color^  ^,,,  Hurl,  the  uil    ipped  with 

The  ai„ger  Mackk.-The  hackle  used  for  i    s  ny  is  . 

neck  of  a  cock  whose  taibcoverts  are  of  a  tint  deep  enough 
or  the  Red  Hackle.    The  Ginger  Hackle  is  better  Led  as  a 
dr.|.-liy  than  as  a  stretcher;  the  b«ly  should  be  of  dubbing 
of  the  same  color  as  the  hackle,  and  wrapped  with  silver 
bread  .f  ,t  ,s  used  for  a  stretcher.    When  it  is  used  for  a 
droppe,  the  body  may  be  of  orange  or  lemon  colored  flos 
s.lk    the  latter  tmt  IS  preferable  towards  sundown.   The  hook 
used  should  not  be  larger  than  No.  7;  Ko.  9  or  10  is  not  too 
smal  on  st.Il,  smooth  water.    Where  the  hackle  is  very  I 
tl-  %  will  kill  as  long  as  you  can  see  it  on  the  w2r     l' 
.»  som^,mes  dt^sscd  Palmer  fashion,  though  I  do  not  like 
.t  so  well  as  when  it  is  tied  simply  as  a  Hackle.    I  ge„en.lly 
..e  .t-as  I  do  most  Hackles-o„  a  Kirby  hook,  on  account 
ot  Its  superior  hooking  qualities. 
Black  Eackles  are  better  for  drop-flies.     As  they  are  used 


816 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    B>OK. 


chiefly  on  fine  water,  or  on  bright  days,  or  at  midday,  they 
should  be  drer-^ed  on  small  hooks,  say  from  8  to  10  or 
even  12  (Kirby).  I  prefer  the  bodies  of  copper-colored 
peacock  hurl,  though  black  mohair  is  generally  used.  The 
bodies  of  this  fly  are  also  made  of  orange  and  red  floss  silk ; 
they  are  sometimes  dressed  as  Palmers,  and  ribbed  with 
silver  or  gold  thread  or  tinsel,  or  with  coarse  red  or  orange 
silk. 

A  Grizzly  Hackle  is  a  good  drop-fly  on  a  bright  day  towards 
noon ;  it  is  best  on  a  body  of  black  floss  or  mohair.  The 
hackle  for  this  fly  is  a  mixture  of  black  and  white— the 
darker  the  better.  It  is  obtained  mostly  from  the  neck  of  the 
conk.  It  is  good  on  bright  water,  and  more  appropriate 
for  a  dropper. 

A  pale  yellow  mottled,  or  barred  .Eackle,  with  light  yellow 
silk  body,  is  a  good  evening  fly.  I  sometimes  tie  it  on  a 
No.  10  or  12  Kirby  hook.  It  comes  into  play  with  great 
effect,  with  the  Yellow  Sally  at  sundown,  and  as  late  in  the 
evening  as  Trout  will  rise. 

A  White  Eackle,  with  white  or  ve^-y  pale  yellow  body,  it  is 
thought  by  many,  will  kill  later  in  the  evening  than  any 
other  fly,  though  I  think  it  not  superior  to  the  pale  yellow 
mottled  hackle  just  described. 

The  Dotterel  is  one  of  the  flies  described  by  Hofland—  'body 
of  yellow  silk,  legs  and  wings  from  the  feather  of  a  dotterel." 
This  feather  is  not  known  to  American  anglers ;  my  imitations 
are  made  from  the  light  barred  feather  of  the  partridge  or 
snipe,  and  the  body  of  light  yellow  floss  silk.  It  is  easily 
made,  and  on  small  Kirly  hooks  it  is  killing  on  well-shaded 
waters,  especially  towards  sunset. 

Tlie  Grouse  Eackle  has  a  body  of  orange  floss,  or  peacock 
hurl ;  I  prefer  the  latter.  A  suitable  feather  for  this  fly  cuii 
be  had  from  the  wing-coverts   and  rump  of  our  common 


TROUT    PLT-PI8HIN0 


817 


praine  fow  ;  a  oook  partridge's  feather  i.  still  bettor;  a  snipe', 
or  woodcock  s  will  do.  This  is  a  good  Sy  on  clear  water  a 
well  as  on  a  full  strean, ;  if  for  the  latter,  it  is  better  to  h  " 
he  body  .pped  with  gold  tinsel.  It  is  better  used  as  a  dro^ 
fl>  ,  the  hook  should  never  be  larger  than  No.  6  on  full 
water,  and  8  or  10  when  it  is  fine. 

fealefl' rt*''  '""'•"^^'' ^-*^  "^y^  made  from  the 
feather  that  hangs  on  either  side  of  the  rump  of  an  English 
n.pe;  n  ts  sUghtly  barred.    The  body  m^y  be  mad!  of 
ead.oolored  floss,  or  a  pale  but  distinct  yellow,  it  is  a  goo 

:rr;otr '""'""" '°  ^- ^"^  "■■—-- 

The  last  seven  of  the  aforementioned  Hackles  are  better 
without  havmg  the  bodies  tipped  with  tinsel,  and  are  g^J 
ones  to  mduet  the  beginner  in  th.  art  of  tying  his  own  fli 
Most  of  them  should  be  us^  exclusively  L  lo^::    'Z 
Bed  Brown.  SoWier,  and  Ginger  Hackles  are  ,uL  as  sue 
oessful  a,  stretchers.    The  Bed  Hackle,  I  am  in  the  hab  t 
of  dressing  on  hooks  from  No.  3  to  6,  made  of  stout  hel 
wire,  so  that  it  will  sink  somewhat  below  the  surface  J 
*e  water;  which  mode  of  fishing  I  have  frequenUyTu:! 
neces^ry,  especially  after  a  freshet;  the  Trout  in  the  rifts 
appearing  to  take  it  as  bait,  carried  along  by  the  current 
beneath  the  surface,  rather  than  as  a  fly 

W,NC.D  Fi,,.s.-Of  the  great  variety  described  in  English 
books  on  fly-flshing,  I  place  foremost  of  all,  the  Grelm 
f'7'';'r"  Hofland  say,  is  made,  " bod;  of  h<s  wool 
^.™  red  brown,  ribbed  with  gold  twist;  tail,  two  loTg 
whisks  of  red  hackle;  wings  from  the  feather  of  a  tor 
...?s  w,ng;  legs,  bright  amber,  stained  hackle."  This  is 
e  Red  Spinner  found  in  the  tackle  store.    As  we  have  no 

n.ottlcd  feather  fVom  the  wing-covert  of  the  mallard;  body 


318 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  red  mohair.  If  there  are  Chub  in  the  stream,  and  they  arc 
troublesome,  I  substitute  a  dubbing  of  bright  orange,  gene- 
rally of  hog's  down,  to  avoid  them,  for  red  is  very  attractive 
to  those  pests. 

"A  Brown  Spinner  is  made  by  using  a  brown  mallard's 
feather  for  wings,  brown  mohair  or  hog's  wool  for  body,  and 
a  brown  hackle  for  legs.  This  is  considered  by  many  a 
better  fly  than  the  Red  Spinner,  and  is  used  mostly  as  a 
stretcher.  The  same  fly  is  sometimes  made  by  picking  out 
the  hog's  wool  dubbing  under  the  wings,  lo  represent  legs, 
instead  of  using  a  hackle  for  that  purpose. 

The  March  Brown,  and  Cowdiing,  I  have  never  taken  a 
fancy  to,  nor  the  Stone  Fly ;  the)-  are  useless  when  one  has  a 
supply  of  Spinners  in  his  book. 

There  are  several  small  flies  with  light  yellow  or  slate 
bodies  and  lead-colored  wings,  described  by  Ronalds,  which 
resemble  each  other  closely ;  they  are  good  for  the  evening, 
or  on  well-shaded  waters  at  middaj'.  These  are  the  Cochwing 
Golden  Dun  Midge,  Yellow  Dun,  Skyblue,  Whirling  Blue  Dim, 
and  Little  Pale  Blue  Dun.  None  of  them  should  be  on  hooks 
larger  than  No.  7. 

The  Iron  Blue  Dun  is  used  with  effect  at  almost  any  time 
of  day.    It  is  preferable  as  a  drop-fly. 

The  Orannom  has  a  body  of  hare's  fur;  wings  of  a  partridge 
feather,  made  full ;  legs  of  a  pale  ginger  hackle,  and  a  short 
tuft  of  green  floss  silk  at  the  tail,  to  represent  the  bag  of  eggs 
which  this  insect  carries  at  the  extremity  of  its  body.  In 
this  country,  the  Grannom  is  found  on  the  water  towards  th(; 
latter  part  of  June,  mostly  towards  sundown  ;  this  imitation 
of  it  is  a  killing  fly  as  a  stretcher  on  a  No.  8  hook. 

The  Jenny  Spinner  (this  is  a  Hackle). — I  have  seen  this 
diminutive  fly  used  with  great  success  as  a  dropper,  on  the 
same  whip  with  the  Grannom ;  body,  white  floss  silk,  wound 


TROUT    FLY-FISHING. 


319 


With  a  light  dun  hackle,  or  a  dirty  white  hackle  will  answer 
in  the  absence  of  the  former ;  the  head  and  tail  of  brown  silk  • 
hooks  No.  9  or  10.  ' 

The  Black  Gnat  is  a  small  %,  and  a  pretty  good  imitation 
ot  a  gnat ;  it  is  best  on  l^right  waters  after  ton  o'clock  ;  hooks 
8  to  10. 

The  Yellow  Sally  has  yellow  wings,  body,  and  legs ;  some- 
times  It  IS  tied  a,  a  hackle.  It  is  a  good  fly  at  sundown,  and 
as  long  as  the  angler  can  see  where  it  falls  on  the  water 

The  Fern^Fly  is  attractive,  with  its  bright  orange  body  and 
Icacl-colored  wings. 

^    The  AlJer.Fly.-^e.,  to  the  Eed  and  Brown  Spinners,  this 
IS  the  best  stretcher-fly  on  Hofland's  list.    I  have  used  two 
of  them  on  fine  low  water  at  the  same  time,  with  great  effect, 
one  for  dropper  and  the  other  for  stretcher.     The  bodv  of 
this  fly  shc-^id  be  made  of  copper-colored  peacock's  hurl  and 
the  wings  of  a  feather  from  a  brown  mallard,  or  brown  hen. 
This  fly  can  be  varied  by  having  a  black  mohair  body 
picked  out  near  the  head  to  represent  the  legs,  as  in  the 
Brown  Spinner. 

May  Flies  (the  Green  and  the  Gray  Drake  are  the  chief 
representatives),  as  killing  as  they  may  be  on  English  waters, 
are  seldom  used  successfully  in  this  country. 
Th,.  Mackerel.  Fly  is  supplanted  bv  the  Brown  Spinner 
A  Fancy  Fly,  with  red  or  brown  hog's  wool  for  body 
picked  out  beneath  near  the  head,  for  legs;  a  dark  brown 
ma  lard  or  hen's  feather,  with  a  few  fibres  from  the  feather 
of  the  scarlet  ibis  and  green  parrot  thrown  in  for  wings  •  a 
tai   o/two  fibres  of  a  red  macaw  or  ibis  feather,  and  the  end 
of  the  body  tipped  with  tinsel,  is  sometimes  a  good  stretcher. 
I  have  used  it  successfully  on  the  rifts  of  the  Beaverkill  in 
Sullivan  County,  N.  Y.;  it  also  does  well  on  the  still  wat'ers 
of  the  Adirondacks.     The  hook  should  be  No.  2  or  3. 


820 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    QOOK. 


The  Scarlet  Ibis,  as  much  as  it  is  lauded  by  some,  I  have 
never  had  inuoh  success  with,  except  for  those  splendid 
Cauadiau  fish  known  as  Sea  Trout.  With  a  red  or  bright 
yellow  body  ribbed  with  gold  twist,  it  is  very  killing  in 
angling  for  them. 

The  Oovernor,  though  a  beautiful  fly,  I  have  not  tried 
successfully.     It  closely  resembles  the  Fern-Fly. 

The  fly-fisher  who  keeps  a  varied  assortment  should  not  be 
without  a  few  small  dark  Camlet-Flies.  The  Irish  fly-makers 
excel  in  these.  I  have  found,  however,  that  small  dark 
Hackles,  and  the  Alder-Fly,  when  tied  on  a  No.  10  hook,  with 
wings  from  a  dark  mottled  brown  hen,  to  raise  Trout  when 
anything  artificial  could  induce  them  to  come  to  the  surface. 

At  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  on  the  lakes  of  Maine,  and  on 
some  of  the  rivers  about  Lake  Superior,  small  Salmon-flies 
are  more  killing  than  Trout-flies ;  hooks  smaller  than  No.  2 
(Trout)  are  seldom  used  there. 

After  having  gone  into  a  somewhat  lengthy  description  of 
the  flies  I  have  found  to  take  well,  I  will  refer  to  a  few  which 
I  tie  for  my  own  fishing,  and  with  slight  variation  of  color 
and  size,  I  find  them  ample  for  all  seasons,  weather,  and 
water.  I  do  not  pretend  to  say  that  other  flies  may  not  be  as 
killing  on  the  whip  of  other  anglers,  but  the  constant  use  of 
these  for  the  last  five  or  six  summers,  has  given  me  (it  may 
be)  a  kind  of  blind  faith  in  them,  which  has  led  me  to  adopt 
them  to  the  exclusion  of  nearly  all  others. 

Of  winged  flies  I  use  only  the  Brown  .Ken  and  the  Coach- 
man ;  of  Hackles,  only  a  brown,  a  black,  and  a  ginger. 

There  is  no  variation  in  the  bodies  of  my  Coachmen;  they 
are  always  of  copper- colored  peacock's  hurl,  tipped  with  tin- 
sel, the  legs  invariably  of  red  hackle.  The  wings  are  of  four 
tints :  first,  white ;  second,  a  light  lead  color,  generally  from 
a  tame  pigeon ;  third,  a  shade  of  lead  color  rather  darker — a 


TROUT   JLI-risHINO. 


«U 


g»  I .  feather  .s  very  appropriate ;  fourth,  a  decided  lead  eolor 
-»V  from  a  blue  heron.  I  tie  tho.e  intended  for  dropn  rs 
on  hook,  from  No.  6  to  10;  for  ^treteher.,  I  use  ^0^2  T 
.nd  a  and  n  fl.hin«  with  them,  vary  the  ejlor  of  ^ZVJ 
size  of  hook,  according  to  the  weather  (bright  or  cloudy),  the 
water  (ul,  or  fine),  and  the  time  of  day.    The  white  wng. 

::  atrnt:  '"^  ™'°' '' '""  -'  *^  '^^  ~-  - '-  '" 

The  A-o™  Sen  I  tie  without  varying  the  colors:  body 
of  copper-colorcd  peacock's  hurl,  tipped  with  gold  tinsel  ; 
egs  of  dark  brown  hackle;  wings  from  a  dark  brown  hen' 
eator  mottled  or  speckled  with  yellow  at  the  outer  ends 
of  the  fibres.    This  feather,  which  I  have  mentioned  so  often 
.s  taken  mostly  from  hens  known  as  t,:e  "golden  pheasan 
breed,    and  ts  not  generally  appreciated  by  professional  fly. 
makers     On  a  No.  8  hook  for  a  stretcher,  this  fly  kills 
splendidly  on  fine  still  water,   and  on  a  bright  day      I 
generally  use  with  it,  a  brown  or  black  Hackle  on  a  No  10 
nook,  as  dropper. 

AOinger  Sa.kh.  with  a  light  yellow  body,  is  my  favorite 
evening  fly.  •' 

Any  of  these  flics  are  tied  to  order,  and  by  the  angler', 
own  pattern  ,f  he  wishes  it,  by  Mr.  George,  at  Philip  Wilson's 
gun  and  tackle  store  in  Chestnut  above  Fourth  street,  or  by 
Mr.  Jackson,  :n  Gold  below  Dock  street,  or  John  Worden,  a' 
Kr,ders  corner  of  Second  and  Walnut  streets,  Philadelphia 

The  Wa,P._Thc  leader,  with  its  flies  attached,  is  generally 

htd  IS  of  much  tmportance.  The  fly  at  the  end  is  called 
«.e  Stretcher,  Drag-Fly,  or  TaiLFly.  Those  above  are  the 
l-rop  Files,  Sometimes  they  are  termed  "Bobbers"  or 
"Droppers." 

The  stretcher,  as  a  general  rule,  should  be  larger  than  the 


S22 


AMBRIOAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


drop-fly ;  the  greater  size  and  weight  being  at  the  end  of  the 
leader,  enables  the  angler  to  cast  further,  and  with  more  pre- 
cision. And  the  consequent  greater  resistance  in  drawing  it 
over  the  surface,  keeps  the  leader  taut  and  the  Iropper  more 
at  right  angles  with  it,  than  if  the  reverse  was  the  rule. 

The  distance  between  the  stretcher  and  drop-fly  should  be 
proportioned  to  the  general  length  of  the  cast.  In  fishing 
where  it  is  more  convenient  to  cast  a  short  line — say  of 
eighteen  or  twenty  feet — the  flies  should  not  be  more  than 
thirty  inches  apart.  This  distance  betwien  the  flies  is  more 
suitable  to  the  beginner ;  but  as  practice  enables  him  to  throw 
a  longer  line,  the  dropper  may  be  moved  further  up  the 
leader,  until  four,  or  even  four  and  a  half,  feet  may  intervene. 

The  stretcher  should  be  tied  to  the  end  of  the  leader  by 
the  common  water-knot,  which  is  illustrated  on  page  409, 
and  the  dropper  fastened,  as  shown  by  figure  3,  on  the  same 
diagram.  The  pieces  of  gut  on  which  droppers  are  dressed, 
should  be  stiflf,  and  not  more  than  five  or  six  incnos  in  length. 
If  the  angler  fishes  with  two  drop-flies  (thougn  more  than 
one  is  seldom  used),  the  upper  should  be  twelve  inches  or  so 
above  the  first  dropper.  The  leader  should  not  be  more  than 
three-fourths  of  the  length  of  the  rod,  i.  e.,  nine  feet  for  a 
twelve-foot  rod.  "With  the  beginner  it  should  not  exceed  six 
feet,  for  a  short  line,  if  light  at  the  end,  is  not  as  easily  cast 
by  the  novice  as  a  heavy  one.  A  good  large-sized  hook  also 
will  make  casting  easier,  in  his  first  attempt.  He  should  not 
commence  with  more  than  one  dropper. 

Frank  Forester  recommends  a  leader  of  fifteen  feet.  This 
length  would  make  it  impossible  for  the  angler  to  reel  up  his 
fish  within  reach  of  his  landing-net,  as  the  knot  which  fastens 
the  line  to  the  leader,  and  those  by  which  the  different  gut- 
lengths  are  joined,  would  catch  in  the  wire  loop  at  the  end  of 
the  tip,  or  in  the  rings,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  fish  could 
not  be  brought  near  enough  to  put  the  landing-net  under  it. 


nd  of  the 
more  pre- 
rawing  it 
>per  more 
ule. 

jhould  be 
[n  fishing 
— say  of 
nore  than 
18  is  more 
I  to  throw 
r  up  the 
ntervene, 
leader  by 
page  409, 

thesame  ^  CHAPTER  XII. 

e  dressed,  ^_  wTTr-rrrr,,,,  , 

inlength.  |  FLY-FISIIINO    FOR    THOUT. 

lore  than 
ihes  or  so 
nore  than 
feet  for  a 
xceed  six 
lasily  cast 
hook  also 
bould  not 

set.  This 
3el  up  his 
eh  fastens 
srent  gut- 
he  end  of 
fish  could 
under  it. 


I 


"  I  NiviR  wander  whore  the  bordoriiig  reodi 
O'erluuk  the  iiiuddy  atroum,  wliintu  tuiigling  weed! 
Perplex  thu  flalier;  I,  nor  cbootiu  to  liuar 
The  thIevUli  niglitly  net,  nor  barbiul  itiicur; 
Nor  drain  I  ponda,  the  golden  Carp  tu  tiike, 
Nor  trowle  for  Plkea,  diapeopleni  of  tlii'  lukp. 
Around  the  atcol  no  tortured  worm  ahull  twine, 
No  blood  of  living  itiawt  aluina  my  Hue; 
I,«t  nie,  leas  cruel,  coat  the  foathureU  hook, 
\f ith  pliant  rod,  athwart  the  pebbled  briwk. 
Silent  along  the  mazy  margin  atray. 
And  with  tlio  fur-wrought  Hy  delude  the  prey." 

Oat. 


■'    CHAPTER    XII. 
TROUT  FLT-FISHING.—THE  STREAM. 

Carting  die  Fly.-Theory  of  strict  imitation-Striking  and  killing  a 
Fish.— Likely  places,  how  to  fish  them. 

Casting  the  Fly.-So  much  has  been  written  on  this 
subject,  that  the  learner  who  consults  the  authorities,  not  only 
finds  that  "doctors  disagree,"  but  that  he  is  bewildered  with 
what  may  appear  to  him  unnecessary  detail ;  and  he  is  thus 
impressed  with  an  idea  that  Fly-Fishing  is  a  science  to  be 
attained  only  with  much  study  and  practice.  It  would 
therefore  be  much  better  to  learn  the  rudiments  from  some 
skilful  friend  on  the  stream,  and  afterwards  read  such  autho- 
rities  as  Chitty,  "Ephemera,"  and  Ronalds. 

As  it  is  likely,  however,  that  some  of  my  readers  who  may 
wish  to  try  their  hands,  may  not  be  able  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  practical  instruction  of  friends  of  experience,  or  may 
not  have  access  to  English  authors  on  fly-fishing,  I  will,  with 
some  misgivings  as  to  my  ability  to  profit  them,  describe  the 
usual  manner  of  casting  the  fly,  as  practised  by  our  best 
anglers.     Advising  the  beginner  not  to  be  ambitious  at  first 
of  accomplishing  what  he  may  deem  a  difficult  feat,  that  is, 
to  cast  a  long  line,  but  rather  by  patience  and  diligence  to 
acquire  the  knack   of  delivering  one  of  moderate  length 
scraight  out  and  lightly;   by  perseverance  he  will  in  due 
time  find  "how  use  doth  breed  a  habit  in  a  man." 
On  a  favorable  day  the  learner,  with  faith  and  industry, 

(327) 


828 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


and  no  preconceived  notions  of  the  difficulty  of  fly-fishing, 
may  find  at  his  nooning  that  he  has  made  a  catch  which  does 
not  compare  unfavorably  with  that  of  his  more  skilful 
brother.  If  the  contrary  be  the  case,  let  him  not  lose  heart, 
as  there  may  have  been  many  circumstances  against  him ;  as 
inexperience  of  the  waters,  the  arrangement  of  his  whip, 
landing  his  fish,  &c.,  which  he  has  yet  to  learn,  and  that  it  is 
not  his  casting  which  is  altogether  at  fault. 

Some  writers  have  objected  to  the  accepted  term  "  whip- 
ping," contending  that  casting  the  fly  is  different  from  whip- 
ping with  a  long  staff  and  lash.  I  acknowledge  that  in  the 
main  it  is.  Still  the  first  motions  of  the  arm  and  rod  are  not 
unlike  the  motions  of  the  arm  and  whip-staff'  of  a  stage-driver. 
The  latter  intends  that  the  end  of  his  lash  shall  reach  a  certain 
part  of  the  horse's  body,  while  the  angler  intends  that  his 
flies  shall  fall  on  a  certain  part  of  the  stream ;  but  here  the 
similitude  ends.  The  driver,  by  a  sudden  backward  motion 
of  the  arm,  causes  the  lash  to  strike  the  horse  with  force,  and 
rebound ;  while  the  angler  avoids  the  quick  backward  motion, 
and  allows  his  flies  to  fall  lightly ;  and  then,  not  hastily,  but 
by  a  gentle  movement  of  his  rod,  draws  his  flies  towards  him 
or  across  the  water. 

But  to  commence. — Let  the  beginner  draw  out  as  much 
line  as  he  can  conveniently  cast.  If  he  uses  a  twelve  foot 
rod,  eighteen  feet  (that  is,  from  the  tip  to  the  stretcher-fly)  is 
enough.  Then  rvith  a  backward  motion  of  his  rod,  let  his 
line  go  well  out  behind  him,  and  before  it  has  time  to  fall  to 
the  ground,  by  a  forward  motion  of  the  forearm  and  wrist, 
cast  his  flies  to  the  desired  place  on  the  water. 

The  backward  motion  of  the  line  is  chiefly  imparted  by 
the  spring  of  the  rod,  as  the  flies  are  lifted  from  the  water, 
and  if  it  does  not  go  to  its  full  length  behind,  it  will  come 
down  clumsily  on  the  water  before  the  angler,  when  he  casts 


TROUT    FLY-FISHING. 


329 


it  forward,  and  short  f^f  th      i 

effect  i,  p;„d„„  a t  sit  t  "r'  ''■  ^''^  -'-  w 

stould  bear  in  mind  th7it  T  """  '"""'■  ''''  ""«'""- 
a'eiglit,  and  the  sprit  of\  1  /t  ""^"«*'  ''"  "  ^"^^ 
light  oast.    The  a™  lit  '     ''  ^**  ""^  '»"«  -^ 

-tion  imparted  to  rhe':itLr^''  ''«'"'^'  ""^  ""' 
pivot  at  the  elbo«.  and  .1,;^  "  "'"*"«  "=  o"  » 

at  the  Wrist.    Th'el:;":;  :™^7;»*rpi.„. 

required  in  a  short,  straight  cast  '  ""'  °"'^  '^ 

eiro;^!:,:  nrr-  ?r^^  --  -' 

He  shonid  always  aim  a,  T  ^^      '    '  ""^  "™-''^'  "■■>"• 

^      ""'■  *"™e  particular  nlaop  ■  1,„      n 
learn  to  measure  the  distance  with  h,  "^^  «""  «<">» 

exact  amount  of  force  to  propelTis  fl^     7V"^  '""  "'^ 
In  drawing  them  over  the  water     h!  '"""       ■"'• 

have  the  drop-fly  ,„  ,tim  or T  """"'"^  "''J°«'  ''  '■» 

stretcher  whchfoUo^'Tnl',""  °°  "^  ^"*«^  "■« 
-e  of  itself,  for  a  a  11  7        ""-^  '^  ^"°«<»  '"  '"^e 

"  i^  on  or  be'neat'h  thefuXl."""""'  "  '"""^^^  ""'^  "•"-"- 
When  the  flies  fir^^f  fnH         .^ 

'owed  to  rest  a  mom  nt Id  th  ^"T"'  ""^  ^''™'''  ■=«  »'• 

■   tightening  the  line  7Tr!  '     "°"""  ™P"«'<'  l'/ 

,  °  ^^"*^'  or  in  recovenn'r  thp  f„ii  ^ 

'•o<l  on  the  instant,  shonid  be  avoided"  Tfl  "     ^'■'''''  "'  "'" 
sLould  be  left  for  some  moments  to  ts  wil  "T"''  "'^^ 

a..d  sometimes  with  a  tremulousmo  il"  '  """  S'"'^^^  «""% 
"P  against  it.  °'""'  ""o^'  or  diagonally 

After  the  learner  (and  he  will  always  be  .        •     ^ 
acquired  the  first  principles  of  the  art  1      !         "°^  '"^ 
and  observation  will  tea,.b  hi     /  "^'  ""genuity, 

«-  -eams  and  ia^a  e'^Xl^'??" '' ^'-- 
wading,  the  latter  iVom  a  bo,/    ,/  '  """  ^'"^  V 

I' '»  *erefore  less  neces  ^1  ettr  'T  "  '■'^"'  """^ 
^"PPose,  or  E„g,i.h   write^  C::7>^T-:'2 


830 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


rugged  forest  streams,  overhung  by  bushes  and  branches  of 
trees,  and  other  obstructions  occurring,  make  it  requisite  that 
the  angler  should  acquire  tact   and    skill,   to  meet  these 

difficulties. 

In  casting  under  branches  which  hang  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  water,  the  motion  of  the  rod  and  course  pursued  by  the 
Hue  is  necessarily  horizontal.    For  instance,  in  wading  down 
a  stream,  if  you  intend  whipping  under  the  branches  on  the 
right,  a  back-handed  cast  is  necessary ;   the  backward  pre- 
paratory motion  of  the  rod  being  across  the  stream  to  your 
left,  and  the  past  horizontally  from  the  left  to  your  right. 
When  the  branches  you  wish  to  cast  under  are  on  your  left, 
the  course  of  the  line  is  vice  versa,  that.is,  from  the  right  to 

the  left. 

The  largest  Trout  love  the  shade  of  trees  and  bushes  which 
overhang  the  bank,  and  it  is  only  by  the  means  just  described 
that  you  can  present  your  flies.     It  is  customary  to  fish  down 
stream,  and  there  is  much  difference  of  opinion  as  to  whether 
the  general  rule  should  be  to  cast  directly  down  or  acr.ss  the 
wat^r     In  this  the  angler  mu'.t  be  governed  much  by  cir- 
cumstances, and  his  own  judgment.     I  prefer  the  diagonal 
cast,  as  presenting  the  flies  in  a  more  natural  way,  although 
the  drop-fly  may  appear  to  play  better,  and  set  more  at  right 
angles  with  the  leader,  when  drawing  up  against  the  stream. 
When  the  wind  is  blowing  up  the  stream,  it  becomes  in  u 
good  degree  necessary  to  fish  across,  if  possible  casting  below 
the  desired  spot,  and  allowing  the  wind  to  carry  the  flies  to 
the  right  place  as  they  fall  on  the  water.    If,  however,  it 
blows  "strongly  in  the  direction  of  the  cast,  care  should  be 
taken  when  putting  on  a  fresh  fly  to  moisten  the  gut  to  which 
it  is  attached,  if  it  be  a  stretcher.    Many  flies  are  cracked  off 
by  neglecting  this  })recaution. 

The  advice  of  English  writers  to  fish  up  stream,  or  with  the 


TROUT   PLY. PISHING 


331 


wind  at  one's  bact   in  ^    j. 

-coded  bank,  i„  the  other,  which  llleTn  """^• 

ignore  both  rules.    The  force  of  1.  '  '°  ™''^- 

good  rift  would  bring  the  sThl  .  rT  ""  """"^  " 
beginner,  entangle  tl„  ''^^/K  h"  T"  "''" 
«  only  in  a  stiJI  pool,  or  where  I  "     '"°°'''-    ^' 

one  is  able  to  .sh  !,  s^rean, t  ^ aj r::";  '"''^'  """ 
A  word  or  two  here  about  the  flies'oo:^  IT""" 

"%ht  as  falls  the  flaky  snow  " 

ru:re:t;itr?e:::f:r-..;--. 

poetical  o„e,.and  may  be  carted  out ,!  .  I  i  "  "  ™'^ 
line  is  light,  the  leader  fine,  Id  h  1  l^,  'T"'  "  '"^ 
»^coad  is  impracticable  with  a  Ion.  li,?  .    "^^    "^^^ 

-ewhat  elevated  above  the ^Lf  iHu  rd^X  ^  ^ 
on  our  streams,  the  miraculous  casting  or  fall  'of  h  «  "^ 
-b.cl>  -me  writers  speak  of,  and  their  skm"    I  ^°^ 

are  things  we  '■  read  about."  '  "^^^■ 

My  experience  is,  that  the  falline  of  tb^  I„,,^ 
almost  transparent  when  properly  dvld^  I*"*  '^ 

*e  ^^  but  it  is  the  inL^     '^'^ZT    ^''"" 
position  of  the  angler.    In  cas«n.  T  °™sp,c„ous 

flies  always  preeed'e  the  WefanVl  "anTar'  '""''  *' 
course,  fall  where  the  flsh  lie  befo^  h  1;;  '"  °' 
fisher  advances  or  extends  his  ca        A^tb    ,  '  "  ""^ 

:2.----oug.t,itrustt:c:a::r;.:::2 
.^—si^tttzru^dt^S^^^^^^^ 

fine  It  IS  important  that  they  shoulrl      T  ,  ^ 

-»vea,re.ysaid,nosudJe:rsh?u,7rSr";h: 


II 


fi'  ' 


882 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


fliers,  but  they  should  be  eased  off  (if  I  may  so  express  it)  as 
they  fall,  by  the  slightest  dowirvard  bending  of  the  wrist. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  poetry  also,  as  well  as  fiction,  in 
the  stories  told  about  casting  a  very  long  line.    Exi)erieuce 
wir.  teach  yoa  to  cast  no  longer  line  than  is  necessary,  what 
ever  proficiency  yoa  may  acquire.     Still  it  sliould  be  borne 
in  niind,  that  the  higher  your  position  above  the  water,  the 
mure,  visible  you   are  to  the  fish,  hence  tho  greater   the 
necessity  for  ftHhiug  far  off  when  occupying  such  a  stand. 
But  with  sucl:   .aevation,  it  is  easier  to  cast  a  long  line. 
When  a  person  is  wilding  the  str-am,  he  is  less  visible  to  the 
fish  than  if  he  wr..   ra  Lhe  bank,  as  the  medium  through 
which  the  line  of  .-l^^hl  passes  is  more  dense  than  the  atmo- 
sphere above,  and  the  rougher  the  water  the  more  the  line  of 
sight  between  the  angler  and  the  fish  is  disturbed. 

°Nice7-  -■iisting  is,  of  course,  required  on  a  still  pool  than  on 
a  rift;   a  careful  angler,  when  he  wades  such  water,  will 
always  go  in  softly,  without  floundering  or  splashing,  fishing 
it  by  inches,  scarcely  making  a  ripple,  and  creating  so  slight 
a  disturbance,  that  he  will  find  the  fish  rising  within  a  few 
yards  of  him;  then  he  should  cast  with  not  too  long  a  line, 
and  lightly.    If  he  sees  a  large  Trout  rising  lower  down  the 
pool,  he.  does  not  fish  carelessly,  or  hurry  on  to  get  to  him, 
hvt  tries  to  tak3  ihose  that  may  lie  in  the  intervening  water, 
and  approaches  him  slowly  and  imperceptibly,  knowing  that 
he  will  be  found  there  when  his  time  comes.     I.  may  add 
here  that  in  such  water  a  landing-net  is  indispensable,  as  it 
would  disturb  the  pool  to  wade  ashore  with  every  good  fish, 
and  that  here  also  you  have  a  better  opportunity  of  using 
your  net  and  securing  your  fish,  than  in  a  rift. 

In  casting  a  long  iin. ,  or  even  a  short  one,  pirt.icv  i  irly  on 
a  windy  day,  it  is  bcttf  ;•  to  wet  it  occasionally  by  lioijliug  the 
leader  and  flies  in  your  hand,  and  let  it  swag  in  tl.c  water; 


TROUT    PLY.pisHi^^ 

i'ucceed  so  well  i„  their  effort,  ,„  ^      ,  °  '"'"  ^"S^"^^ 

mentioned,  and  by  whippt '  .  "'"  ''^  ""^  »«-.  ju.t 

*at  4a  s.retehe/a„d  drZ         "'°"'"''  ''™'»  "■-'  "'-■ 

de^be^el,  .ate  .he  fl,  befo:  ;  t;      "  "°""  "^"  »^ 
One  instance  of  this  f  <j   • 

■    <^';™''  "'  »  pool  beneath  .he  M  oft  ,'"  ""^  """"'"•>'  ^  '' 

-nook,  a.  a  low  sta^o  of  „ter    „  "  ™  ""^  ^^""«. 

«re  shy  and  refused  eZTZ7  7"'"' "'''■    ™=  «»'' 

friendp„.onaGrannomI7/!  '  f"'"^  "«'™.  -hen  „,, 

,        Spinner  for  a  dropper     h^^^  f  ?'"'"'  """^  "  "'■■""■'  J™ny 

''»«es  fresh,  and  b,^LS\r°''''^''"»^'«"'»^ 
between  each  .hrow,  h^e  wotidfa;  ^  """"'""  '~'"  '"^ 
«  »^sy  surface,  that  a  brace  of  T  '"  "«''">'  ""  'he 

almost  every  cast,  and  befor^  .h/'°";  """'''  '^''^  ">em  at 
He  had  tied  these  flies  anHnadf  hT    ."  '""  <>"-  "''^• 
evening  cast  on  .his  poo,  Zll  "'* '^P"'^"^  ^r  his 
'"•ne,  I  was  obliged  to  con.  nt  T    l'    '^  """'''  '°'  "o.ice 
-^■e"  in  a  half  hour  Co         's:^:f  T'  '"""'"S  his  fish, 
exemplification  of  the  advantalrf  ?       ""^    '''"'  "-  -» 
and  the  faiiacy  of  the  theorvof  n     ^r"'"*  °"^'^  «'-  ^'v, 
;»  *e  water,  for  :.  .his  inl,  e  j  1"  '"'?«  *^  «-  .o  faU 
ft-d  of  it  touched  .he  surface  a.  /  "''  '' ''°""'  »  » 

I'-en,sto„ethat.heJeTs;       "^°* 

'W»  to  say  a  few  words  abo      .LT  "P^^P^'^  P'aee  than 

'«■"»   system,"  which   sole  E     vT""'  ""''  "^'*'  "«• 

«'-..«ously    The  former       at    :  *  """^  "^^-'e  - 

-"">-^.  or  for  each  mon  h,  s  „  w!      ^  "'"  '"'  -"- 

'  eory  by  practical  angers  who       .,  ^^  ™  ''^P'oded 

»«  Pe.>auuc  hun.bugrr.1  X'lri*'^","^*""'-^ 

«7  tiiat  IS  good  in  April  is 


884 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


killing  in  August,  and  the  Bed  and  Brown  Hackle,  the 
Coachman,  Alder-Fly,  and  Brown  Hen,  will  kill  all  summer. 
For  the  theory  of  "strict  imitation,"  there  is  some  show  of 
reason,  but  I  cannot  concede  that  Trout  will  rise  more  readily 
at  the  artificial  fly  which  most  closely  resembles  the  natural 
one  for  the  fish's  attention  is  first  attracted  because  oi  s,  me- 
thing  lifelike  falling  on  the  water,  or  passing  over  the  surface, 
and  he  rises  at  it  because  he  supposes  it  to  be  something  he 
is  in  the  habit  of  feeding  upon,  or  because  it  resembles  an 
insect  or  looks  like  a  fly,  not  that  it  is  any  particular  insect 
or  fly  for  we  sometimes  see  the  most  glaring  cheat,  which 
resembles  nothing  above  the  waters  or  beneath  the  waters, 
a  piece  of  red  flannel,  for  instance,  or  the  fin  of  one  of  their 
own  species,  taken  greedily. 

The  last  time  I  had  positive  proof  of  this  was  some  years 
ago,  when  I  happened  to  spend  a  quiet  Sabbath  in  the 
"Beech  Woods"  of  Pennsylvania,  with  a  cheery  Irishman 
who  had  made  a  clearing  on  the  Big  Equinunk     Towards 
noon  I  missed  my  creel,  and  on  inquiring  what  had  become 
of  it,  was  told  that  the  boys  had  gone  a-fishing  and  taken  i 
with  them.    In  the  aflernoon  they  returned  with  the  cr<.l 
full  of  Trout,  which  far  exceeded  my  catch  of  the  day  pre- 
vious.    I  asked  them  if  they  had  taken  them  with  worms- 
ao  •  with  the  fly-no,  they  had  none ;  and  then  I  remembered 
the  "dodge"  I  had  practised  myself  in  -^y^^^'^  "')2 
days    They  said  they  had  "skittered"  with  the  belly  Jin  of  the 
Trout     A  worm  to  catch  the  first  fish  was  the  only  bait  they 
wanted,  all  the  rest  of  the  Trout  were  taken  by  drawing  this 
rude  counterfeit  over  the  surface  of  the  water.     They  dul  not 
k^ow-happy  little  fellows-that  their  practice  was  in  oppo- 
sition  to  the  theory  of  learned  professors,-Hofland,  Blame. 
Shipley,  Ronalds,  and  others. 


TROUT    PLr-PiSHINO. 


886 


Striking  and  Kiliino  a  Viaa     o.  •; . 

tion.  have  been  given  I  .  r^i^  trrl"'™" '"'^°- 
tbo  fly.   Some  maintnin  .v.  .  •       "'"^  '^  ^«^  '^hen  it  rises  at 

should  strike  as  soon  as  vo«  Tel  the  °/'"'"  ^  "''"  ^"" 
raakes  as  he  turns  to  go  balk  Bill  °'  '""'  '" 
as  a  rule  without  e.^W        '''"'"  "  """«'  '^  """l^ed 

In  most  cases  when  Tmnf  ^,'      r     ^ 

.%wi.,  hook  ..J:.v!rr;:eSrt;rr"r' 

-  a  fish  takes  the  By,  allows  hin,  to  b "  "Vm  '  •"""  f 
when  he  attempts  to  east  it  from  his  ,„ol  .  ^"'''  ^"" 
rod  fixes  the  hook  in  I,;.        .,  '     °  ''''""e  "f  '^e 

"  '»<"'  '1  l»s  mouth,  as  he  relaxes  his  hold      S„ 
"  fr'^quently  happens  that  the  rise  is  seen  and  ,1       .     ■ 
the  rod  is  felt  at  the  same  momen     Tfls'  °° 

the  fl.v,  and  make  another  effort  ^LXtZZ  """  ™" 
too  hastily.    When  a  fish,  therefor       k'  1 1  ^  "™^ 

itisoolyneeessaryto  keep  the  I  netu       !  ^  "'"'™"''^' 
the  wrist  may  be  given  to  fix  .h.T   T  ™  '""  "^ 

mouth.  *'  ^""^  "'"'•'  flf'Iy  in  his 

a^uhe'ircrb:":"  ,"■;.  ™"' "  ^""*«"« »''-  -  f-'.-, 

have  been  wXr  ,  X"lm  T"  "^  '"^""'^ '^■""•^ 
--her,  taking  U  for'sll  j'  ThT  H^  '"'^  "'  ^•°" 
Strike  sharply     T  hav.  «       .•  "^  ^^"  ^*^  ^^  "^cessarj  to 

"^FV-     -••  nave  sometimes,  iishprl  oil  .1      •      ,. 

allowing  the  stretcher  (..enerallv  a  r! )  h    f  ^  ^  ^  '"  "'"  ""^' 
ami  trollin..  as  with  /=  °™"f  "«' ''''«'"")  to  sink  a  little, 

'-  :^hieh  stretch  t'h:ir  blehr     :  ^^  T]  "' 
>"11  rise  almost  without  rufflin,,  ,C      r  ^'''  '''"^ 

the  stretcher  beneath  a,  ifT  '""""•  '"^  ^"'"■»'  •■'■"«' 

uoiieatn,  as  It  to  usccrfTin  if  if    •  ^^ 

thing  to  eat;  then  a  sli^^ht  h.t  '  ''""^  •^""^^- 

-the  fish  before  ;^!:s:trhiruJ:~>'o 

""""^  "  '''-"^"^  ^™'  -  lost  by  the  beginner. 


886 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


from  excitement  or  a  1  "^  ju.lqjment  in  managing  them. 
It  is  always  the  safe,  i-ian  to  .  .nile  a  ^sh  as  if  he  was  slightly 
hooked,  and  in  fishing  a  rift,  to  get  him  out  of  the  rough 
water  and  towards  the  margin  where  it  is  comparatively  still, 
as  soon  as  possible.  For  in  his  efforts  to  escape,  you  have 
the  force  of  the  current,  as  well  as  his  Btrougtl.  and  ability,  to 

contend  with. 

If  the  wnter  is  still,  apd  the  fish  indisposed  to  show  fight, 
tow  him  *rrttly  to  one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  as  you  reel 
in  the  line.  If  there  is  a  sloping  shore  without  obstructions, 
and  yon  think  he  is  securely  hooked,  you  may  sometimes  got 
a  little  headway  on  him,  and,  by  a  steady  pull,  lead  him 
ashore  before  he  overcomes  his  astonishment  at  being  hooked, 
or  has  realized  his  danger.  If  in  landing  a  fish  in  this  way, 
though,  you  allow  him  to  come  in  contact  with  a  stone  or 
other  impediment,  it  will  arouse  all  his  fears,  and  in  his 
desperation  he  may  tear  loose. 

Wlien  a  fish  of  uimsual  size  is  hooked,  and  you  can  .lu  so 
without  disturbing  the  lower  end  of  the  rift  or  poo^  it  is  safer 
to  lead  him  down  stream,  for  this  increases  the  diiUculty  of 
his  breathing,  while  you  are  assisted  hv  the  current,  and  the 
strain  on  your  tackh   i  >  diminished. 

English  writers  direct  us,  after  hooking  a  fish,  to  keep  the 
rod  in  a  perpendicular  position,  or  the  point  well  back  over 
the  shoulder;  this  is  very  well  if  he  :.  securely  tiooked  and 
swims  deep.  If  he  struggles  and  flounders  on  ihe  surface, 
though,  the  point  should  be  immediately  lowered,  and  the  rod 
held  nearly  horizontally  across  .  st  tm,  giving  hi'  tV 
wholespriugof  it,  thus  keeping        .  r.     It  is  bett     not 

to  rai.se  his  head  above  the  water  until  i>e  is  somewhi,    ex- 
hausted, or  until  you  are  ready  to  slip  the  landing-net  undei 

him. 

If  your  reel  has  a  moderately  stiff  click,  and  the  fish  is  large 


TROUT   FI,r.HSHINO. 


887 


enough  to  run  tho  line  08;  he  should  be  allowed  to  do  ^ 

zfeJth'";  '"*  *: ""'  ^-'-'^  V '1  :.ie: 

■uthe    „  'T    ^'  '"  ''"'''  '"  >■"  --'""»«.  -el 

n     b    1";'"':''™^™  '""^'  ""-^  """rt-ng  when  you 
can,    buttmg  him,"  «a  some  pei^ons  call  it,  or  bearing  hard 

^-  -:  water,  ..eTanri^Terhr  J;^^^^ 

i':!"-:  *  Ltei^r  :rth  ^t  ^"^ "»-  -- 

S  mm  near,  reel  m  until  the  end  of  the  leader 

wha:.  .t  jo.„,  the  line,  has  reached  the  end  of  the  t,V  he  ^ 

hen,  .f  t  e  leader  is  three-fourths  the  length  of  the  rol,  and 

the  rod  pi,    t,  clo,,e  enough  to  slip  your  net  under  himThi! 

1-ft^hand,  st.ck,ng  your  thumb  under  his  gill,  .„d  taking 
hi  o7y,  ....,:,'"  """"^  ""'  "-  -"-f—  i-o  th! 
1       'is  much  less  strain  on  one's  tackle  in  playing  a  flsh 
'''  g         Uy    i.pnosed.    In  killing  a  Salmon,  if  he  is 

Foperly  ha.     ,.,,,     ,  does  not  exceed  a  pound,  and  w  th  a 
irout,  It  IS  not  over  an  ounce  or  two. 

I  have  known  anglers  handle  fish  so  well  as  to  make  a 
common  practice  of  slipping  , :     ,,and  gently  down  the  leau. 
7'  ""'"«  ""="  ''^'""^  '"e  g,„      .metimes  wearing  a  threa.i 

.un  and  coolness  for  such  d.n,ero„s  practice.    A  landing, 
net  «  almo...  indispensable  when  the, .  is  no  conveMent  place 

,ur  leading  y.„r  prize  to  th.=  b. or  when  wading  ashore 

would  disturb  the .,  act  of  a  pool. 

^  LiKHLY  Places,  ato  how  t,     -sh  tpek.  ^T      success  of 
'  .0  flv.fisher  depends  aln., .,  as     „ch  on  ..hat  mi.nt  be  called 


888 


AMERICAN    ANOLEB'8    BOOK. 


an  intnitivo  knowledge  of  likely  places,  as  his  skill  in  casting, 
or  in  killing  n  flah. 

The  beginner  genornlly  prefers  a  lively  rift,  where  there  is 
an  open  cast,  for  the  cir  ont  takes  a  good  hold  on  his 
stretcher,  and  bears  it  down  stream,  while  it  keeps  his  leader 
taut,  and  his  dropper  dapping  prettily  on  the  surface.  But 
he  should  remember  that  in  most  cases,  at  such  a  cast,  he  is 
likely  to  bo  ex  osed  to  the  view  of  the  fish,  which  always  lie 
with  their  heads  up  stream.  lie  should  therefore  approach 
cautiously,  fishing  the  slack  water  on  each  side  at  the  head 
of  the  rift,  with  as  long  a  lino  as  he  can  well  manage.  Coming 
nearer  step  by  step  and  casting  as  ho  advances,  he  will  fish 
the  near,  and  then  the  opposite  side  lower  down,  drawing  his 
flies  lightly  across  the  r^Migh  water,  and  submitting  them  in 
some  degree  to  its  will.  Still  approaching  he  will  cast  ob- 
liquely across,  then  straight  down  and  over  the  water  where 
the  current  abates. 

As  a  general  rule  the  larger  fish  take  precedence,  and  lie 
nearer  the  head  of  a  rift  and  rise  first.  If  found  at  the  lower 
end,  it  will  be  where  the  water  is  deeper  and  where  there  are 
rocks  or  an  overhanging  bank.  Trout  are  not  often  found  in 
a  rift  or  pool  with  a  smooth  even  floor  of  rock,  or  small 
pebbles,  as  it  affords  them  no  harbor  or  hiding-places. 

Where  a  large  rock  projects  above  the  surface  in  water  of 
sufficient  depth,  the  angler  should  cast  near  its  edges  on  botli 
sides,  then  above  where  it  repels  the  force  of  the  stream ;  or 
he  may  have  a  rise  in  the  eddy  just  below,  where  the  divided 
current  unites  again. 

A  deep  bend  in  the  stream  where  a  caving  bank  over- 
hangs, affords  a  likely  cast,  especially  where  stumps,  logs,  or 
drift-wood  lie  about. 

If  the  stream  has  a  long  still  reach,  one  generally  fishes 
from  the  shallower  side,  finding  his  cast  opposite  where  it  is 


iHoiri  ny.pigniNo. 


839 


<  oepor,  o^tmg  cIo.c  to,  or  under  .ho  p„„J„„i  bougl,,,  „  i„ 
.1.0  .hH,k.  of  .h„  bu»ho,  or  .roe-.,r„wi„g  hi,  fli„,  .|I„,,.,„„„„ 
or  d„.„c.l^  „„.«.     U  U  ao.  „  had  p,a„  who„  f,,h  h„o  ri,i 
an     refu»,,d  one.  flio,  in  ,uoh  a  pool,  .o  ,i.  p„.i„„u,  d„w 
.nd  c  an,,  .hen,  f„,  .,„.„„,  „„„^  ^^  ,,.^^^_^_^^  _^^,  > 

a  h..l„  .V  „1„  nry  hack,"  .ha.  i,,  fl»h  fro,„  .to  lower  .„  .ha 
upper  o„d.    Moren.  ffle,  c,«.  fron.  ano.her  direo.io    wil 
«o,n„.„„o,  .nduoo  fi»i,  .o  "roco„.sid„r  .he  mo.ion,"  and  adop 
your  an>end,non.  if  properly  pre>«,u.ed.  '^ 

When  the  season  is  well  adva„ee,l-say  July  or  Aurus. 
Trout  W.1    aa,e,„hle  in  pairs  or  lit.le  eom,„u„Ls  i„  so't 
su,tahle  plaee  for  spawning,  and  remain  .here  if  .hero  isTo 
excea.ve  nse  m  the  stream,  until  it  is  time  .o  spawn.    tZ 
..  froc.ue„tly  beneath  the  overhanging  alders;  .here  mJ 
your  fl,es  under,  if  y„u  eanoo.  presen.  them  more  civi  ,y 
ud  .f  you  .ake  „  good  fish,  .ry  again,  for  .he  res.  are  likej 
to  be  as  hungry.    If  .he  sun  be  brigh.,  use  .he  Alder-fly  o^ 
sueh  oceastons,  for  either  dropper  or  streteher,  or  both.    The 
same  k.nd  of  a  shallow  side-rift  is  a  likely  plaee  early  in  June 
when  .he  Suekers  eongregate  .here  to  spawn,  and  the  Trou 
are  on  .he  ookou.  a  few  yards  below,  .o  ea.eh  .heir  roe  a" 
IS  e.amed  down  s.ream  by  the  enrrent 

Immediately  below  a  mill-dam,  if  there  be  any  depth  of 
wa.er,  ,s  tnvar.ably  a  good  plaee;   but  you  should  never 
^and  consp,euously  above  on  what  is  ea.led  "the  broas."  of 
he  dam,  or  on  a  high  roek;  such  a  posi.ion  is  .o  be  eon- 
Jemnedeven  ,n  a  bait-flsher;  but  get  below,  and  if  tlerlis 
no  way  of  Ashing  from  .he  sides,  go  to  the  Ml  of  th  7„„ 
nd  e  St  upwards.    This,  if  there  •  o  but  little  water  eoiin. 
over    he  dam,  .s  the  best  plaee  to  fish  from.    Trou.  willTo"; 
;-..  ay  immediately  under  the  fall  or  in  the  foanr'Lr: 
In  a  deep  still  pool  mueh  exposed  to  the  sun,  if  there  is  » 


H40 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


I 


tree  or  two  on  the  bank  with  drooping  boughs,  Trout  are  apl 
to  collect  there,  for  they  love  the  shade.  Here,  if  the  weather 
is  warm,  they  are  not  apt  to  rise  with  a  splash,  as  I  have  just 
remarked,  but  will  suck  in  your  fly  with  a  mere  dimp- 
ling of  the  water,  or  you  may  have  a  vague  sense  of  its 
being  arrested  beneath  the  surface.  Then  strike  sharply,  but 
do  not  be  violent,  and  you  have  him ;  try  again,  there  are 
more  there  and  good  ones. 

Never  pass  a  piece  of  still  water  of  reasonable  depth  where 
a  fresh  spring  brook,  however  diminutive,  comes  in,  particu- 
larly in  warm  weather.  I  have  in  my  memory  such  a  pool 
bordered  on  one  side  with  hair-grass  and  duck-weed,  which  I 
had  frequently  passed  heedlessly  by,  supposing  it  to  be  back- 
water from  the  main  stream,  or  left  in  the  old  bed  of  the 
creek,  from  the  overflow  of  the  spring  freshets.  But  one  day, 
seeing  a  quiet  dimpling  of  the  surface,  I  waded  lazily  in,  and 
threw  my  flies  carelessly  on  the  water,  when  a  thirteen-incher 
laid  hold,  and  was  away  in  the  duck-weed  before  I  recovered 
from  my  astonishment.  After  many  turns,  however,  and 
much  contention,  the  pliant  little  rod  exhausted  him.  Thus 
encouraged,  I  fished  the  shaded  pool  its  whole  length  as  noise- 
lessly as  an  otter,  and  the  result  was  a  dozen  very  handsome 
Trout.  I  never  passed  that  pool  again  without  giving  it  the 
attention  it  merited. 

Sometimes  on  the  subsiding  of  a  freshet.  Trout  will  sur- 
mount a  long  rapid,  and  rest  in  a  pool,  or  the  smooth  flow  of 
water  above,  v/here  it  is  not  a  half  yard  in  depth.  Fish  such 
water  with  as  long  a  cast  as  possible,  and  so  as  not  to  throw 
your  shadow  over  the  swim. 

A  brisk  clattering  little  brook,  as  it  rushes  along  over 
rocks  and  logs,  through  the  woods,  washes  out  many  a  pretty 
hole  in  its  sharp  turns,  and  amongst  the  big  stones,  where  the 
laurel  and  alders  render  casting  impossible.     The  only  way 


TROUT    FLY-FISHING. 


— — — __  ^^^ 

inree  to  one  they  will  hook  themselves  •  if  thev  rlnr^'t    .  m 
genttya.  each  ,„,  o,  ju™p,  .  if  ,ou  we.  IZ,  :    '  rl^ 
but  not  dra,v,„g  yo„  flies  entirely  from  the  vvnter      t\ 
.a  on  good  «.h  in  the  .naU  tHbnta'ies  ofTZZ^l^Z 

sors  m  order,  aceordmg  to  size.    The  head  of  „  n,ill  ^ 
Jre  a  rapid  .eets  the  haeWater,  ,  invlurrt, 

^  I  lave  already  &id  or  intimated,  that  on  a  bright  dav 
Tron  ,v.l,  always  rise  better  in  the  shade.  Ther  fo  IheT 
a  pool  .s  of  e,na,  depth  across,  one  side  of  it  may Te  bl  tr  n 
the  mornmg,  and  the  other  side  in  the  afternoon  There" 
many  good  pools  also  which  are  not  shaded  on  either  sde  or 

tah,  heie  they  scarcely  rise  until  after  snudown      Sn.h 
places  are  often  fished  without  sueees.,  by  an  ang  eTandt 

But  of  all  places  commend  me  in  the  still  of  tl,. 
■ng,  'o  the  long  pl„cia  po„,,  ,„„„„  „^  one      e  li     d 

«.ing    ,e;«oomj.r;t:c le::^^^^^^^ 
pT/rrparoirthirf:"""'  ^  r "'-  -^ 

little  white-win..H  r      I         .  ^^^"'^  *'^^-^^'   ^^^    ^ 


S42 


AMERICAN    ANGLBR'S    BOOK. 


i 


Cast,  slowly,  long,  light;  let  your  stretcher  sink  a  little. 
There  he  has  taken  the  Ginger — ^lead  him  around  gently  to 
the  shallow  side  as  you  reel  him  in,  but  don't  move  from 
your  position— let  him  tug  awhile,  put  your  net  under  him, 
break  his  neck,  and  slip  him  into  your  creel.  Draw  your  line 
through  the  rings — cast  again ;  another,  and  another.  Keep 
on  until  you  can  see  only  the  ripple  made  by  your  fly ;  or 
know  when  it  falls,  by  the  slight  tremor  it  imparts  through 
the  whole  line  down  to  your  hand— until  the  whip-poor-will 
beginp  his  evening  song,  and  the  little  water-frog  tweets  in 
the  }.,rass  close  by. — Not  till  then  is  it  time  to  go  home. 

If  you  have  dined  on  the  stream,  it  may  be  that  the  Trout 
you  roasted  were  too  highly  seasoned  and  you  are  thirsty ;  if 
so,  stop  at  the  old  spring  by  the  roadside. 


mi 


^^    « 


CHAPTER   XIII. 
SALMON-PISIIING. 


"  I  tovE  to  Boe  a  man  forget 
His  blood  is  growing  cold, 

And  leap,  or  Bwim,  or  gather  flowem. 
Oblivious  of  his  gold, 

And  mix  with  children  in  their  sport, 
Nor  think  that  he  is  old. 

"  I  lovo  to  see  a  man  of  care 

Take  pleasure  in  a  toy ; 
I  lovo  to  set,  him  row  or  ride, 

And  tread  the  grass  with  Joy, 
Or  throw  the  circling  Salmon-fly 

As  lusty  as  a  boy. 


"  The  road  of  life  is  hard  enough, 
Bestrewn  with  slag  and  thorn; 
I  would  not  mock  the  simplest  joy 

That  made  it  less  forlorn, 
But  fill  its  evening  path  with  flowen, 
As  fresh  as  t)iose  of  morn." 


CHAPIER  XIII. 

SALMON-FISHING. 
Tackle  used  in  Salmon-Fishing      Rods      R..^!.     b    ,  ,- 

m      ici..  „  S-—*almon-fi8hine  compared  with 

*.!«.  .houlder.  c«i„g  i„  difflcuU  pl„e.,  explained  ky  il^JJl 

a  Salmon  Will  do  or  may  do.— Gaffing  •     "-nac 

Campino   on  the  River.      Camp  equipage. -Protection    against  mo. 
quitoes.  black-flies,  and  midges. -Clothing,  .ic-CookingTensiir 
Stores.     Cooking  Salmon  on  the  river.-To  boil  a  Salmon  -rb'u 
Sa  mon^Cold  Salmon.-Soused  Salmon.-To  bake  or  steam  a  G  i, 
under  the  coals  and  ashe.-Kippe..ea  Salmon.-Smoked  sZl^: 
and  Custom  on  the  river. 

TACKLE  FOR  SALMON-FISHINO. 
EODS.-A  Satoon.rod  Aould  be  of  the  toughest  and  most 
rnng.  .-.ood  that  can  be  pr,K,ured.    It  should  taper  so  truly 
tut  ,t.,  elasticity,  or  rather  its  tendency  to  bend,  will  be  dis^ 
tnbuted  ove.  ,ts  whole  v.    ,h,  ,^,,^^  ;„  ^  ^.^ 
-from  the  po,„t  of  the  tip  to  the  place  where  it  is  g  asped 
hove  the  ree.    In  a  .,,1  „f  tvue  proportionMhe  greater  the 

the  apex  of  the  curve  caused  by  lifting  the  weight  approach 

(345) 


846 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


the  butt,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  more  the  upper  part  will 
be  relieved  of  the  strain. 

To  demonstrate  this  theorem,  let  any  person  who  is  curious 
on  the  subject,  place  a  two  or  four  ounce  weight  in  his  tobacco- 
pouch,  an(i  suspend  it  to  the  end  of  his  line,  after  passing  the 
line  through  the  rings  of  a  well-proportioned  Salmou-rod;  and 
he  will  find  that  the  tip  will  bend,  while  the  lower  part  of  the 
rod  will  remain  comparatively  straight.  Let  him  increase 
the  weight  to  eight  ounces,  and  the  curve  will  be  transferred 
to  the  next  joint  below,  the  tip  assuming  more  the  direction 
of  a  straight  line.  Then,  by  increasing  the  weight  succes- 
sively to  twelve  and  sixteen  ounces,  he  will  find  that  there  is 
little  or  no  curve  in  the  tip,  the  additional  weight  having 
drawn  it  nearly  or  quite  straight,  and  transferred  the  trans- 
verse strain  proportionately  towards  the  lower  part  of  the 
rod,  where  it  is  strong. 

A  rod  of  sixteen  feet,  which  I  deem  sufficiently  long,  need 
not  weigh  over  two  pounds  two  ounces  ;  and  one  of  seventeen 
feet  should  not  exceed  two  pounds  six  ounces.  Of  the  two, 
I  prefer  the  smaller,  on  account  of  the  ease  in  casting  with  it, 
for  it  is  no  boy's  play  to  wield  a  heavy  Salmon-rod  for  hours. 
The  smaller  has  power  enough  to  kill  any  Salmon.  The 
dimensions  of  such  a  rod,  if  in  four  pieces  of  equal  length — 
measuring  the  diameter  of  the  inside  or  "  male"  ferules  as 
they  come  in  order  from  the  butt  outward — should  be  eleven, 
eight,  and  five-sixteenths  of  an  inch,  and  the  diameter  of  the 
butt  half  way  between  the  ferule  and  lower  end,  seven-eighths 
of  an  inch  ;  the  thickest  part,  where  the  reel-band  is  placed, 
say  nine  inches  above  the  end,  should  be  an  inch  and  five- 
sixteenths. 

A  seventeen-foot  rod — supposing  the  butt  and  second  joint 
each  to  be  four  feet  six  inches  long,  and  the  third  joint  and 
tip  four  feet — should  have  the  two  upper  ferules  the  same 


SALMOK-Prsir  ING. 


347 


.«e  ^,  the  smaller  rod,  and  the  lower  ferule  the  sixteenth  of 
an  mch  larger    The  butt  should  be  of  the  best  coarse-grained 
wh,^  a,h;  the  seeond  joint  of  hickory  or  ironwood;  the 
th.rd  of  lanee  or  .ronwood;  and  the  tip  of  the  best  Malacca 
cane,  rent  and  glued.    The  strain  on  a  tip  caused  by  the  oft. 
.•epeated  hftmg  of  a  long  line  from  the  water,  makes  it  neces- 
sary  that  .,  should  be  of  material  of  the  closest  and  hardest 
fibre;  for  the  weight  of  the  line  is  not  suiBeient  to  throw  the 
stram  on  the  lower  portion  of  the  rod,  as  in  killing  a  fish  • 
but  the  constant  hfting  of  the  line  from  the  water  preparatory' 
ocastmg  It,  gives  the  top  a  downward  swag  in  a  week  or 
wo,  wh.eh  makes  it  necessary  that  the  angler  Luld  Zide 
hmiself  with  one  or  two  extra  tips 

The  advice  of  English  authors,  to  have  the  rod-rings  very 
large,  that  the  hue  may  pass  through  freely,  shows  a  wanT  f 
proper  consideration-  ror  if  there  should  be  a  knot  or  kink 
in  the  line,  it  would  be  ....in  to  catch  in  passing  through 
the  wire  loop  at  the  end  of  the  tip.    The  large  L  of  the 
rings,  therefore,  would  not  provide  '^  the  conti„.„ney,  while 
they  are  awkward  and  rattle  in  the  -.n.^d,  aug,nen,^g  the 
resistance  to  the  air  in  easting,  and  incv  ..,,;:,g  the  levL^e 
on  the  rod  when  killing  a  Salmon.    In  n.kin;  a  coup    rf 
Sdmon  rods  for  my  own  use,  I  went  in  direct  opp;itio„  to  h 
anW  notion  and  put  on  metallic  guideriike  those  on 
A_  bass  rods  but  lighter,  and  find  them  far  preferable 
to  rings.    In  fastening  on  the  reel  I  use  but  one  reel-band 

^^1\"T:T''  ^''^^  "™  '  ^"f-  °-  »^  "f  "'«^- 
t-^  to  which  the  reel  is  fastened,  and  secure  the  other  end 

with  a  string,  so  as  to  avoid  the  contingency  of  the  slidin.. 

baud  becoming  tight  by  the  expansion  of  the  butt  of  the  r,^ 

rem  moisture,  as  already  explained  in  my  remarks  on  Trout- 


848 


AMIPICAN    ANOLKR'8    BOOK. 


Keels.— A  Salmon-reel  should  be  large  enough  to  contain  a 
hundred  yards  of  line  without  filling  the  spool  so  full  that  it 
will  clog.     A  simple  reel  is  to  be  preferred  to  a  multiplier, 
for  several  reasons  ;  an  important  one  is  that  it  is  less  apt  to 
get  out  of  order  from  the  rough  usage  to  which  it  is  some- 
times subjected.     One  with  the  outer  plates  about  three  and 
three-quarters  inches  in  diameter,  and  an  inch  and  a  half 
between  the  plates,  is  large  enough.     The  click  or  bearing, 
which  is  arranged  between  one  of  the  inner  plates  and  the 
small  outer  plate  next  to  it,  should  offer  resistance  enough  to 
re(iuire  about  six  ounces  to  draw  the  line  from  the  reel.    Of 
course  there  is  an  additional  friction  when  the  line  passes 
thiough  the  rings  of  the  rod  and  out  through  the  tip;  and 
tills  is  all  the  bearing  that  is  required  or  .-.ale  to  ofitev  in  con- 
trolling a  Salmon,  even  when  you  are  butting  him  to  press 
him  from  a  dangerous  place,  or  towards  the  gaff  as  he  becomes 
exhausted.     The  best  Salmon-reels   have  a  smooth  conical 
3rauk  fastened  in  an  outer  plaie,  which  revolves  against  the 


;  j: ;,    ^    -^  i  ' 


SALMON. FISHING 


849 


one  next  to  the  snnnl  +i,^     -  •        , 

oneof  the  ...Unary  kind.    The  bo  .  ™    ..^h  !,      T'^T  '" 
over  met  with,  a^o  those  ,„a,,o  bvF  rW  „f  ^  ''"" 

figure  on  the  opposite  page  .ive„  nl      V  "'"""■     ""^ 

lin,ee.l-oil,  notwithstanding  the  ori^^    ,      ',     '  '"■"''"'■°''  '" 
ferred  to  all  other,.    Tho,:  07,11!  ' '"'"  '°  ^^  ^"'■ 

when  exposed  to  the  Z,      ,    '    ^^  I'^  "^  """''!' '"  - 
when  the,  a.  wound  „p  w.  andl.oTed       ^lil?';^,: 
care,  an  oded  silk  line  will  last  three  or  CI;      If! 
fi,h.ng,  as  raueh  of  it  „,  has  been  wet  should  T  , 
the  reel,  .and  eoiled  or  wound  in        t,  ''''™  "^ 

When  one  end  of  an  .11,, in'  I        "'  "  '""""^'  »»  '°  ''■•/• 
passing  through  the  Ir?:  ""''  '^°™  -'""S  -<' 

it  ".a,  be  take;  o.  JCn;.::!;:;—:""!' 

wound  next  to  the  axle,  the  stiff-  fre,h  end  h  "  """^ 

next  to  the  e,asli„,  li„e      .„  „„  ,  f  ,    '^  ^'"S  ""'"'ards, 

^o^.ht  for  half  the  p^e  otlrilt  t,!  ^  '^1™  "" 
prepare  it  himself  by  the  reeine  f       ,  °  "  """ 

whieh  I  copy  from  C^dUy.   Tf         "'    ""     "  "°*''  '"'°-' 

iiLJlr^jll^^^l^;^'^;'^^        ti>o  last 

«™.  c„or,„  .„  ,.„e  .1  h       -.irC'  717  "'■"  """'  """■  '"'"« 

i.  ....Toin  „„..  it  i.  r„„,  .zjz^j^^z:tt  :"■'"• ""' 

l"»rs.    11,™  p„,  i,  ,h„„„|,  „    .  ™^    """"'  ^  "'J  f»r  twc.,y.f„„r 

..^0  «r ...  .„p.,.,„.,  c,..:w:r:  u : :  :,::::f .  ";"««^«'^  "• 

<ii7  «ll.  and,  in  timo,  to  „t  ,m     Ti,„  r  '  ""''"™  '» 

p-.«v  „„  „,,.  ui  h  „r  I::;;"'"' '- """"'  -  '■""»'«"'•  -^'^ 

t.0  «,  three  hour,    which  win  u  ™  '"'  "  """'"'  «» 

our.,  which  w,ll  cause  the  ,„i„„„  „„  ;,  ,„  ,j^,^,  ^^^ 


PV 


S50 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


drying  requires  three  or  four  times  as  long  as  iho  time  l.e 
mentions.     The  gold-size  mentioned  in  the  not-J  can  be  liad 
of  those  who  sell'  painters'  materials;  I  have  bought  it  of 
Mr.  C.  Shrack,  in  Fourth  street  above  Cherry,  Philadelphia. 
Casting-Lines  should  be  of  treble  twisted  gut,  for  the 
three  gut-lengths  next  to  the  reel-line;  the  next  two  or  three 
lengths  should  be  of  double  twisted  gut,  and  the  remainder 
of  Itout  single  gut,  each  length  finer  than  the  preceding  one 
as  it  nears  the  end.     Single  gut  is  strong  enough  to  hold  any 
Salmon  if  properly  handled,  but  the  treble  and  double  lengths 
and  then  the  single  length,  graduate  the  line  to  a  proper  taper, 
thus  increasing  the  ease  and  lightness  in  throwing  the  fly. 
When  the  water  is  discolored   after  a  rise  in  the  river,  a 
casting-line  of  ten  feet  is  long  enough.    As  the  water  becomes 
clearer,  the  length  should  be  gradually  increased  by  adding 
lengths  of  single  -'it  at  the  lower  end,  until  it  is  nearly  or 
quite  as  long  as  Ou^  .'>d.    By  doing  so,  one  can  cast  a  lighter 
line,  and,  of  couvr,..-  U-e  probability  of  raising  a  Salmon  will 
be  greater  than  it  '.v.mld  be  by  allowing  the  heavy  reel  line  to 
fall  or  swing  near  the  fish. 

Salmon-Flies.— There  is  an  endless  variety  in  the  combi- 
nations and  colors  of  the  feathers,  dubbing,  and  tinsel,  that 
go  to  make  up  the  Salmon-flies  described  in  books  and  sold 
hx  tackle  stores.  Of  the  latter,  many  are  made  by  persons 
who  never  saw  a  live  Salmon,  and  are  tied  more  to  please  the 
eye  of  the  purchaser,  than  with  any  idea  that  they  will  entice 

japanners  term  it),  and  give  an  even  gloss  over  the  whole.  It  must  then 
be  loft  to  dry  as  before  :  the  length  of  time,  as  it  depends  on  the  weatl.er 
and  place,  observation  must  determine  upon.  By  this  means  it  becomes 
impervious  to  wet  and  sufficiently  stiff,  never  to  clog  or  entungk—the  oil 
producing  the  former  quality,  and  the  gold-size  (which  is  insoluble  ic 
water)  the  latter;  while  the  commixture  prevents  the  size  becoming  too 
hard  and  stiff." 


3ALM     V-pigHINo. 


351 


R  tiine    e 
m  be  }iad 

ght  it  nf 
idelplii 
t,  for  the 
D  or  three 
'emainder 
eding  one 
•  hold  any 
le  lengths 
)per  taper, 
g  the  fly. 
e  river,  a 
sr  becomes 
by  adding 
5  nearly  or 
it  a  lighter 
almon  will 
reel  line  to 

the  combi- 
tinsel,  that 
s  and  sold 
by  persons 
>  please  the 
will  entice 

It  must  then 
a  the  weather 
.ns  it  becomes 
iinglc! — the  oil 
i  insoluble  in 

becoming  too 


the  m.    Hotm,.    .andioK  Ibe  minute  directions  .iv      f 
•yn,  ,.„y  ,,ani„,„„  ay.  it  „n,t  not  be  infe'ed  tllt  a         • 
.ion  that  lack,  .,„,e  ,     .ho  tint,  wi„  notti  1      T  e'""  "' 
nng  .s  ..  We  ,„e  p,.evai.ins  co,„™  a,  tw  I  I":: 

Wb«,  as  po^iMe ;  if  „„e  i,  a  ,ig„t  „  ,„.„  1'  „ rf 

to  the  fe,„he«  that  eompo»o  the  wi„„,,  „,  .ail    °  he 

exa..  feather  eannol  be  had,  it  may  ,,ill  1. ,  , 

.he  same  kind  of  water,  and  on  the  .,a,neki„  .J^a! 

.  he  or,g,nal  «.  Presh-mn  Salmon  are  not  .  ,„«  l^^ 
the  color  ,re  at  a»  ,„i,ab,e  to  the  water,  they  .  .,  Zma- 
as  to  a  certi.m  fly  bein<r  fh^  /f..  p  ^  ' 

^ion  orail  oth....  iu!2„rt.l  :  T^rs"  "^  r'^"- 
killed  was  on  I  ti„d  h„f      '=•  "' ®-''"'°"  ^  «™ 

idea  I  had  o,  .„  .Li  waH,  rr^'r  '™^  '°™ 
^-n.>w,ed,e  of  the  „ro  Tr  IZ  V^^""'^  --™' 
....ended  as  an  imitation  of  any  I  had  Lt  !:"re„d  Z^ 
tion  of;   and  I  continued    to  tie  mv  own  fl-  ,'""?■ 

uni„.por.ant  ,l„.ail  „f  a   tj  tr  f  "":'  "'""""«  "•» 

p"-..on„,,cadwhe„iXt';:,:::r''^-' 

too  lar,e  and  showy  ZlCZ!^:'''^^'  T^^'l 
fl-  ticl  for  the  Shannon  wonld  fnV,  the  Sal,  '  7"" 
*oft^..,a,,,.,,„,„,;„„--S^>-ont. 

"      ,     "  '^'°^""'  -"""'y  »'■  beautiful   but  useless  flie, 
..nposed   on   some  of  our  verdant  countrymen    w  h   f 

one  the  "  Blue-and-brown  "  the  other  thir     ^'^''''S''''  > 
^ '   ^'^^  o^'^er  the  '•  Silver-graj ;"— the 


\ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.25 


1^128 

g50     ^^^ 

Hi,  Uk 


1.1    i.-^l 


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2.2 

12.0 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


l/.A 


t 


852 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


latter  for  kigh  water.  The  Blue-and-brown,  by  tying  witlj 
darkei -tinted  hackles  and  bodies,  as  the  water  clears,  he  uses 
almost  entirely.  He  told  me  he  fished  the  Lakes  of  Killamey, 
and  the  clear  rivers  of  Ireland,  with  the  same  flies  in  his  boy- 
hood, and  he  still  adheres  to  them :  his  favorite,  the  Blue-and- 
brown,  has  become  so  famous  amongst  the  anglers  of  the 
province,  that  it  has  taken  his  name,  the  "  Nicholson  fly." 

Flies  for  American  rivers — except  when  th>3  water  is  dis- 
colored by  a  freshet — as  a  general  rule,  should  be  of  darker 
and  more  sober  tints  than  those  used  in  Scotland  and  Ireland. 
The  feathers  to  be  preferred  for  wings,  are  taken  from  the 
wing-coverts  of  the  male  mallard,  the  tail  of  the  wild  turkey, 
and  the  second  joint  of  the  wing,  and  tail  of  a  dark -brown 
mottled  hen,  or  spruce  grouse;  the  two  last  are  for  small 
flies,  and  will  raise  a  Salmon  oh  fine  water  when  nothing  else 
will.  For  full  water,  or  when  it  is  discolored,  wood-duck 
and  gray  mallard  are  used,  mixed  occasionally  with  a  few 
fibres  of  red  ibis,  or  a  single  topping  of  golden  pheasant. 

The  bodies  of  those  that  have  dark  wings  should  be  of  red, 
brown,  and  purple  dubbing,  of  different  shades,  varied  occa- 
sionally with  orange,  yellow,  and  black,  and  wrapped  with 
hackles  of  the  same  colors.  Sometimes  two  hackles  of  differ- 
ent color,  as  red  and  blue,  are  used.  The  bodies  and  hackles 
of  flies  for  high  water  should  be  of  light  colors  to  correspond 
with  the  wings :  of  these,  pale  yellow,  pearl  color,  and  light 
gray  are  moat  suitable. 

This  limited  assortment  of  feathers  for  wings,  and  hackles 
and  dubbing  for  bodies,  is  all  that  one  requires  on  the  rivers 
of  New  Brunswick.  Add  to  these,  black  ostri  h  and  copper- 
colored  peacock  hurl,  for  the  heads ;  a  dozen  or  30  of  golden 
pheasant  ruff-feathers  for  tails;  gold  and  silver  tinsel— flat 
and  twisted ;  tying  silk,  wax,  and  a  little  varnish  to  put  on 


SALMON-FISHING. 


86S 


l^tXr""'  '''''"• -^'■'^"^-^'•^--Ha.  for  a 

Tying  Sa)mon.flies  is  an  art  which  i,  easily  acquired  h, 
U^  who  are  a.  al>  proficient  in  bating  Trout-fll  lev 
hardly  require  a,  delicate  manipnlation,  I  «.„  IZ'e  ^rl 
rud^entary  looking  flie,  tied  by  the  natives  about  ZhZ 
that  were  killing  at  the  "Eough  Waters"  on  ,h.  w 
last  summer.  "^  Nipissiguit, 

The  annexed  plate  was  drawn  and  engraved  on  wood 
«n  er  m,  direction,  by  Mr.  Wilhelm  of  this'  Z  I  l^ 
rslir '  '^»™»^^-"'^-^.^e  «rst^twoIt:2 

No.  1  represents  the  Brown  Flv     Tt ;.  „    i-    ,•   , 
a  No.  9.  hook,  and  intended  frW  w^       ^Z       l'^  Z 
mottled  feather  of  a  brown  he.  or  ^Htu^  I  i     bot 

aa  .he  Wings!  ^:r:i' ^i' :zT;:/  *'  --  ^-'^- 
oftLrctod^irbr:;''  r^'^-^-  ^"«» 

with  gold  tinsel,    nd  t'bi:!     ntltl  T"/?  ^^^ 

tipped  With  gold  tinsel;  tai Uf  malld  a^f  f '"""'  ""' 
ffolflpn  «i.  -:.  ^"diiara,  and  a  few  spntrs  of 

goiaen  pheasant    ruff-feathero  •    h^^A    i.i    ,  f^^^o*"  oi 

The  dubbing  and  hacklet?thi;flyt;uM:  f^"'  ■■"'• 
a.  the  water  becomes  clearer.  The  a"!  °  """""' 
hears,  in  tying  it  gives  the  tail  ll  vTngs  I tV^  " 
".^^-ai.  tothela^^  ^-^^^ - 

28 


S64 


AMBRICAN    ANQLBR'8    BOOK. 


ance,  as  the  reader  will  observe.     The  figure  is  an  exact 
drawing  of  one  tied  by  Mr.  N.  himself. 

The  Silver  Gray,  which  Mr.  N.  ties  on  hooks  No.  7  and  8, 
is  intended  for  high  water,  or  when  it  is  discc  >red  after  a 
freshet.  It  has  wings  of  gray  mallard  and  a  few  sprigs  of 
wood-duck;  body  of  lead  or  pearl-colored  seal's  wool  mixed 
with  a  little  yellow,  and  wound  with  silver  tinsel  and  a  gray 
or  barred  hackle;  tag  and  head  of  ostrich  hurl.  It  is  not 
represented  by  either  of  the  four  figures,  but  in  form  resem- 
bles No.  2. 

Nos.  3  and  4  are  exact  copies  of  Nos.  11  and  12,  found  m 
the  "  Book  of  the  Salmon."  I  have  introduced  them  here  to 
show  what  is  meant  by  "feelers,"  and  to  explain  what  a 
"  topping"  is.  The  former  are  intended  to  represent  the  pair 
of  long  antenna  found  in  a  natural  fly ;  they  are  folded  back- 
ward in  the  artificial  fly,  extending  above  and  beyond  the 
wings.  The  tail  and  upper  portion  of  the  wings  of  the  third 
figure  are  "toppings,"  that  is,  feathers  from  the  crest  of  the 
golden  pheasant. 

In  addition  to  the  flies  I  have  described,  theie  are  several 

tied  by  John  Chamberlain  that  are  in  great  repute  on  the 

Nipissiguit.     Amongst  them  is  one  which  I  will  describe  as 

the  •'  Chamberlain."     In  tying  it  (commencing  at  the  bend  of 

the  hook)  the  body  is  first  tipped  with  gold  tinsel,  the  tail  is 

then  tied  on,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  body,  say  one-fourth 

of  the  way  up.  is  wrapped  with  bright  yellow  floss,  when  a 

blood-red  hackle,  and   purple  or  maroon-colored   floss  are 

fastened  in,  and  the  dark  floss  wrapped  on  for  the  remainder 

of  the  body,  followed  by  the  gold  tinsel  and  the  hackle  (four 

turns  are  enough).    Brown  mallard  or  wild-turkey  wings  are 

then  put  on,  and  it  is  finished  with  a  head  of  black  ostrich 

hurl.    The  first  fly  T  tied  of  this  kind,  was  according  to 


fact 


d8, 
er  a 
}  of 
ixed 
;ray 
not 
aem- 

id  in 
re  to 
at  a 
pair 
)ack- 
1  the 
third 
f  the 

vera! 
1  the 
be  as 
nd  of 
;ail  is 
ourth 
ben  a 
IS'  are 
lindeT 
I  (four 
gs  are 
>strich 
ng  to 


SALMON-PISHING. 


856 

John's  directions  as  he  sat  V.v     t  i,        i. 

with  the  "Chamberlain.'        ''  "'  '"^  ^"^*^  ^^^^^^^^^ 

Dr.  Adamson,  in  " Salmon-fishin^  in  r.n«^   »     • 
following  list  of  flies  used  on  7  '    ^'"^"^  '^' 

St.  Lawrence :-  '^'  "^^'^  ^"P^T^ng  into  the 

"The  Zo«/«e  is  an   extremely  beautiful    fl,r    u     • 

mohair  A7ith  gold  tw^-st-  th.  i     i    ^  "^  ^'''''^'' 

u  gom  tw.st ,  the  head  of  orange  mohair  •  th,^  t.n 

golden  Pheasan  °s       ;!.  ;  t:r°T  :r  "•'"'^^  °^  *^ 

::":^;:%-"- ^^----- --^";^^^^ 

■■  ^A^  ^""J'rt.-Wiags  of  ydlo>v  macaw  rth  a  slight  dash 
of  ma  Hard  wmg  a.  each  side ;  yellow  mohair  body  wifh  bhck 

witn  light  blue  silk  tip.  ' 

wiZf  f  r'"''''"*''  "'  «°"^"  pi"--"'  breast-feather 
colore  T  ";r""  "'  """"""••  ^«"^°f  -"dish  brict: 
colored  s.Ik   gold  tw,st,  head  black  ostrich ;   tail  .olden 

Pjeasaottopk^ot..  hackle  .d  to  match  the  body,  tip  t: 
"  ^*«  ^"..-Wiogs  of  mallard  and  peacock's  hurl  •  bodv 

rdrT':f  «°"'^"^'^  -'-^^^  .ail,gree„;a      . 
red  .md  black  hackles,  and  black  tip. 

■■rte  Pa™„„._This  is  a  beautiful  and  elHcicnt  fly     The 
a  shght  mmure  of  wood-duck  in  them;  the  body  is 


856 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  very  dark  claret  silk  with  gold  twist ;  head  black  ostrich ; 
tail  golden  pheasant  topknot,  hackle  dark  claret;  legs  blue, 
with  a  tip  of  yellow  and  gold. 

"  The  Strachan.—mxQd  wing  chiefly  of  golden  pheasant 
lail,  yellow  macaw,  and  jay's  wing;  body  of  crimson  silk 
with  gold  twist;  head  black  ostrich ;  tail  golden  pheasant; 
black  hackle  with  jay's  wing;  legs  tip  yellow  and  gold. 

"  The  Langevin.— Wings,  body,  tail,  hackle,  legs,  tip  all 
yellow;  made  of  the  dyed  feathers  of  the  white  goose;  the 
head  of  black  ostrich,  and  the  twist  of  black  silk." 

Casting  the  Fly.— As  bait-fishing  or  trolling  can  scarcely 
be  called  a  sportsmanlike  way  of  killing  Salmon,  I  shall 
confine  my  observations  to  angling  for  them  only  with  the 

artificial  fly.  . 

In  my  remarks  on  Trout-fishing  I  have  alluded  to  the  irn- 
possibility  of  learning  how  to  cast  the  fly  well  from  written 
directions  alone.  One  may  get  the  theory  ever  so  well  m  his 
head— and  good  theory  too-when  he  comes  to  try  his  hand, 
however,  there  are  so  many  things  he  must  remember  to  do 
just  at  the  nick  of  time,  and  so  many  contingencies  which  he 
did  not  look  for,  constantly  arising,  that  he  will  likely 
recollect  no  more  of  the  lessons  he  has  learned  from  books 
than  some  general  directions,  and  will  depend  rather  on  his 
own  judgment  and  native  aptness.  This  is  more  the  case  in 
Salmon-fishing  even  than  in  casting  the  fly  for  Trout.  . 

I  do  not  mean  to  convey  the  idea  that  the  written  directions 
are  useless;  on  the  contrary,  they  are  of  much  service  when 
combined  with  sorm  practical  knowledge  of  the  art.  It  would, 
therefore,  be  well  for  the  beginner  to  learn  all  he  can  from 
books,  and  not  discard  his  theory  entirely,  if  not  approved 
of  by  anglers,  whose  instruction  he  may  have  the  benefit  of 
on  the  river.  A  little  experience  will  show  him  that  he  mav 
combine  the  teachings  of  the  two  and  profit  by  both. 


SALMON. PISHING. 


367 


Although  I  had  been  a  IVout  flv  «■!,..  f 
lentury  and  had  ™i„»j       VT  ''^""''''«'  '"'■  »  q"«"er  of  a 
Chi«,/«  ^^         •  "'  ^  """'8'"'  >""«•>  knowledKO  from 

suggeation,  of  JorX  "l  '/"'"'"y'  fr"-  the  hints  and 
than  I  Z{"Ll„\  '^'''-  "»  »■"'="«■•«'  oanoe.„„.„, 

to  .he  tl    :;":;'!:  ",r°^r-=  -8"  ^tm  adhe^ng 

remark,  for  a  person  who  can  cast  well  for  Tron.      -n 
.o,ni.the.nack  of  th.^ng  .H„  a^.^^^ C;  "1:;" 

their  ta  attempts  as  I  did    '  ""°  "  ^""^  ""'''  '" 

•  t  f  V""^'  '°  ""'  "'^'  P'""'  <«  to  holding  the  rod     A 
nght.handad  man  will  naturally  grasp  it  wi.rft,        ,   . 
above  the  reel,  and  with  his  JhC'bw  „'  t  I  :^"„  n^' 
utt ;  and  will  throw  from  over  the  „>..  should^     T^    «' 
handed  man  will  do  the  reverse  ,hJ ;,  , 

^and  above  the  reel  and  .stT^  T^ZS'.'l^ 
handed  man  will  advance  his  rm},t  c    / •  ° 

j,ar,^  A  ,  .         ""^®  '^^^  "gnt  foot  m  cast  ng,  and  a  left 

handed  man  his  left  foot      Qnr>^    •        , 

majority  of  n.eu  a.  hLS'iVi  iXt  Z  Tf 
accordingly.  P®  "^^  ^^^^a 

The  fat  thing  is  to  get  out  as  much  line  as  one  intends 


868 


AMERICAN    ANQLBR'8    BOOK. 


making  his  first  oast  with ;  this  is  done  as  in  Trout-fishing. 
To  describe  it,  we  will  suppose  that  the  angler  approaches  the 
stream,  the  hook  claspin,'  one  of  the  bars  of  the  reel  (the 
usual  way  of  carrying  it),  his  line  consequently  (or  as  much 
as  has  passed  through  the  rings)  the  same  length  as  his  rt)d, 
or  nearly  so.     He  disengages  his  fly,  throws  it  on  the  water, 
and  draws  a  few  feet  of  line  off  the  reel ;  the  line  falling  in  a 
loop  between  the  reel  and  the  ring  next  above  it.    Now  by 
switching  his  rod  to  the  right  or  left— his  fly  dragging  the 
mean  time  in  the  water— the  slack  line  which  hangs  in  a  loop 
is  pulled  through  the  rings,  and  out  at  the  end  of  the  tip , 
lengthening  the  line,  by  so  much.     This  is  repeated  until  he 
has  drawn  the  point  of  the  rod  around  so  far  to  one  side  that 
he  is  obliged  to  lift  the  line  from  the  water  and  throw  it 
further  out,  in  order  to. continue  the  operation.     Thus  by 
pulling  the  line  from  the  reel,  and  consecutively  switching 
the  rod,  the  required  length  is  obtained.    Of  course  this  pre- 
liminary operation  is  not  done  in  the. direction  in  which  the 
fish  are  supposed  to  lie. 

Now,  with  a  smart  spring  of  the  rod,  the  angler  lifts  his 
fly  from  the  water  to  make  the  first  cast,  and  directs  its  course 
backwards  over  his  right  shoulder  until  he  thinks  it  lias 
nearly  reached  the  distance  the  line  will  allow  it  to  go  behiiid 
him;  then  with  a  steady  forward  motion,  succeeded  by  a  switch 
of  the  rod,  he  sends  it  on  its  errand  across  the  smoothly- 
gliding  water,  that  it  may  float  or  swing  over  the  current  and 
entice  the  silver-sided  Salmon  with  its  sheen  and  life-like 

look. 

In  this  plain,  straij-l  it  forward  throw,  the  top  of  the  rod 
describes  nearly  an  arc  in  its  backward  course,  and  the 
chord  of  the  same  arc  in  its  forward  course ;  in  other  words, 
the  backward  course  is  a  curve,  and  the  forward  a  straight 
line.     The  left  figure  of  the  cut  on  page  362,  gives  a  bird's-eye 


BALMON-PISHINO. 


869 


,•* :  ^  -^  "^  Straight,  la  imparted  to  the  rod  • 

"  "  '"r*'""™  "•'-«  'he  time  it  is  veniea'  or  perh  p  ^s^ 
before  that  t™„,  in  i.,  forward  movement,  i  per»  uir 
as  he  acquires  the  knack  of  casting,  will  flndTo  '  t  >,' 
he  may  not  be  able  to  describe  it  '   ^''"«'' 

As  in  Trout-flshing,  the  learner  is  apt  to  labor  hard  in 

the  habit  of  making  the  rod  perform  neatly  what  he  b!™ 
physical  effort  would  do  clumsily.    Anothl  t  L.fhaTh: 
has  learned  m  Trout-Bshing  will  also  be  of  service  to  hm 
"  "  "■,■"  '°"™«  of  'l-e  point  of  the  rod  Ae  least  M  by  the' 
mere  downward  bending  of  the  wrist  of  his  right  ha'Va 
the  fly  reaches  Us  destination,  causing  it  to  fall  lithtlv  on  th. 
water,  instead  of  striking  it  with  a  snlash     ™ 
of  sending  the  flv  straight  ,!  T  " "  "™* 

above  the  ,nrf,  *"  '  "'  '^  """'"»  «'  something 

et  n!     L      ?•  "^  ™  "  ''™'  "'*  »"•«  shoulder,  an! 

-  reel  before  rising  hi!  X'Z^^ZS:^^Z 
.  drawn  backward,  the  slack  goes  out  through  the  wire  lo^ 
at  the  end  of  the  tip.  Me  wire  loop 

J™  1"  ^T"^"^"  '^'-'=%-  obliquely  across  the 
tieam,  the  current,  or  a  proper  inclination  of  the  rod,  or  the 

Aft  ",r  ;  :  '""^'^  "  "'"'  '"^  P'"™  "here  the  fish  fa 
After  the  fly  has  fallen  on  the  water,  it  is  acted  upon  by  two 
opposing  forces-the  tendency  of  the  current  to  take  it  down 
stream,  and  the  raising  of  the  point  of  the  rod  to  restrain  „ 


860 


AMBHIOAM    ANULBR'S    BOOK. 


direct  it ;  the  result  is,  that  the  fly  swings  across  the  stream 
towards  the  side  on  which  the  angler  stands,  describing  in  itt? 
course  the  segment  of  a  circle,  and  sweeping  along  in  front 
of  the  fish.  By  increasing  the  length  of  the  cast  directly  or 
obliciuely  across,  as  just  described,  the  rudius  is  lengthened, 
and  the  segment  enlarged  and  of  course  extended  down  stream, 
as  well  as  across.  In  this  manner,  that  portion  of  the  pool 
within  reach  of  the  angler  is  gradually  covered ;  then,  by 
advancing  a  step  at  a  time,  or  by  short  succ^essive  pushes  of 
the  canoe,  he  fishes  the  whole  of  it,  or  as  much  as  can  be 
covered  from  the  side  he  is  on. 

The  fibres  of  the  feathers  of  which  the  fly  is  composed,  are 
made  to  contract  and  expand  as  it  passes  through  the  water, 
by  the  least  possible  raising  and  dropping  of  the  point  of  the 
rod,  in  order  to  show  the  "fly  attractively.  This,  however, 
cannot  be  done  effectually,  if  the  current  is  so  strong  as  to 
press  the  fibres  continually  against  the  body  of  the  fly,  not 
allowing  them  to  open  when  the  top  of  the  rod  is  lowered. 

The  general  rule  laid  down  by  "  Ephemera,"  in  his  Book 
of  the  Salmon,  for  fishing  a  pool  "upwards  in  the  direction 
of  its  source,"  appears  to  me  entirely  wrong.    It  is  impracti- 
cable on  many  American  rivers,  from  the  rapidity  of  the  cur- 
rent.    He  ignores  his  own  rule,  however,  in  a  remark  on  a 
preceding  page  of  his  book,  when  speaking  of  the  motion  to 
be  given  to  the  fly  in  drawing  it  through  the  water.    He 
says,  "the  Salmon-fly  is  always  to  be  worked  or  humored 
against  the  current,  never  with  it."     How  the  angler  is  to 
humor  the  fly  against  the  current,  when  drawing  it  with  tht 
current,  I  leave  him  to  find  out.     As  to  fishing  np  stream,  it 
may  do  where  the  current  is  slight,  but  in  swift  water  it 
should  only  be  when  there  is  no  cast  but  from  the  lower  end 
of  the  pool. 


II 


■ALMON. FISHING. 


861 


The  Left-Shouldered  Cast     it  a. 
a-hing  „..w„  either  »id„  „f  .rZ~L:7T'  rT  '° 

river,  such  au  obstruo In.    l      ■         ^  ""'  "«'"  "'''''  "^  "■« 

.he  m  ^o^i^TX::  "'T''  "  "^"  '"""  ''^- 
<-»'.  the  hi«h  bank  wouW  [     "^  nght.,h.,„ldered 

.h» roa a.a° hetC::,^"^,^ 7'''  -"»■  <^ 

ri«.,t  hand,  anire^llTl^^:  ::;^;  'T  ""-  ""^ 
become  a  left-hauded  man      A         T     ^  "  '"""■  '° 

.*ift  the  hand,  at  aTbr  k  f  '"'"  P'""  ''  "-'  '" 

tl.e  liue  b,«kwa"d  1;  htTrh    :  "  '""^  "^'  ""  "-« 
left  side.   Thi8  wav  ^fT„  f  ''"''  ""'^  '='"'  <■■•"■■'  <l>e 

"' ««.  -.  tre;r:f;rt,;:t:rr ''"-^^ 

to  one  who  is  used  fn  w>,-  ^  ^''^''''''  «^^Pe<^ially 

Trout.  Thelud  e  ^.ZrZ'lT  ''"  '"\^''"""^-  <•- 
shows  the  line  de^ribed  l;  th  .o  T;!'  ""  ?■  °"'  ""«= 
.Mouldered  caet;  the  dotted  1  „        ^  "^  '"  ""'  '?"• 

fl„ .  n  •   .1      .     ,  "  represents  the  course  of  I  he  • 

«y ,  O  «  the  stand  of  the  angler.  »«  oi  t  ne 

A  greater  difficulty  than  th«t  i,..t  j„     -i  _,  . 
eo™.  when  one  .isL  .o  clV;!  ,7:1' V:":  ^ 
and  a  precipitous  bank  or  olift-    •        •  ^*''^'^'^' 

back,  and,  it  „a,  h1:T,-"C^T  V  """  ''' 
has  first  to  get  his  fly  out.  dltl:'' .  "      '  ^''  "" 

assist  him  somewhat.  Then  liftlVi  T.'  "'"■"""  ''"' 
tl,«  ..„j    1,    t  ■        .  "'"8  It  with  a  smart  twitch  of 

-on  ahrupt  spring  of^tl:  r^  t  tt  ^m  fd.  ' 
eye  ™w  of  the  con,,  described  b,  the  top  " le  rod  in  ts 
throw  .s  represented  by  the  right-hand  figure  of  the     t    Tb 

hlT  "™?f'^  '"^  ^*"""-    ^  '^  "-^  P-'  from  wblh 
the  fly  .s  picked  „p,  and  A  the  direction  in  which  it  is  I^ 


862 


AMERICAN   ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


iki^%0£2^ 


After  practising  these  two  casts  for  some  years  whenever 
tho  emergency  required  it  in  Trout-fishing,  I  was  agreeably 
surprised  in  reading  Chitty's  ("Theophilus  South's")  "Fly- 
Fisher's  Text-Book,"  to  find  them  illustrated,  and  have  intro- 
duced the  above  diagram,  which  is  somewhat  similar,  to  show 
that  the  same  casts  can  be  used  in  Salmon-fishing. 

There  are  other  obstacles  and  impediments  the  Salmon- 
fisjier  meets  with,  which  he 'will  have  to  bear  patiently  or 
overcome  as  well  as  he  can.     Amongst  these,  there  is  nothing 
so  annoying  as  an  unfavorable  wind.  At  one  time  it  may  blow 
obstinately  in  your  very  teeth,  requiring  a  deal  of  "  elbow- 
grease"  to  get  the  fly  out.     At  another  time  there  is  a  spank- 
ing breeze  astern,  and  if  you  can  get  your  line  out  behind 
you,  there  are  many  chances  of  cracking  your  fly  off.    Then 
there  is  a  side-wind   blowing  up  stream  or  down  stream, 
requiring  a  nice  calculation  as  to  how  much  you  must  allow 
lor  leeway,  when  aiming  above  or  below  the  spot,  as  the  case 
may  be.     At  such  times,  unless  the  fish  are  very  much  dis- 
posed to  rise,  "  the  game  does  not  pay  for  the  candle,"  and  the 
fisher  had  better  get  into  some  sheltered  nook  and  light  his 
pipe,  instead  of  thrashing  the  wind  and  getting  up  a  feeling 
of  animosity  against  old  Boreas  or  ^olus. 


SAlMOK.FIsniNa. 


863 


Salmon  frequently  leap  above  the  water  as  if  i„  „]„„  or  to 
■nnale  an  additional  quantity  of  atmospherie  airf   t  It 
t.me,  they  are  not  disposed  to  take  your  fly.    But  when  one  • 
3  observed  to  rise  at  a  natu^l  fly_^„d  thei  are  very  few  "f 

The  length  of  line  that  can  be  east  depends  mnoh  on  the 

enghand  sprmg  of  the  rod;  three  times  its  length  i   the 

m,.t  that  most  writers  on  the  subject  give  as  the  disU  ce 

tha    can  be  oast  with  p,      ,;„„  ,„a  „  ,.  "^ 

A  Salmon-pool  is  generally  different  iVom  the  water  in 

:-^t  ?:^nrr  b^er:^  rrrrntr  r ^  f 

eddies  that  whirl  in  cities  at  its  sides;  l' i^ir; 
But  m  the  deep  smooth  rapid,  generally  ocoupyin.  bu  a 
tTat  rrr  *°  ''"^''"'  "''"■'  "-'^  -  «'-'o  *e  rol: 
tbe  brink  of  the  pitch,  as  it  leaps  over  a  ledge  of  rock  Th„ 
aga«  w  ere  a  mede^te  deep  current  termlna  L  a  gls" 
rapid,  called  a  "tongue"  or  a  "d^rJ  ..     ..       •  ^     ^ 

-ks  on  either  side  ;hioh  I:e  thct  re'ntl^l^'r  "l 

Although  an  experienced  Salmon.flsher  may  so  to  ,  „ 
river  and  point  out  most  of  the  .ood  pool,  tw 
casts  he  would  overlook  until  on:  whorsltrth?st:2 
before,  or  an  attendant,  who  is  acquainted  with  the  r  ve^ 
points  them  out  to  him  ^''' 

S™.:«o._There  is  a  gi^t  difference  of  opinion  amongst 


864 


AMERICAN    angler's    BOOK. 


Salmon-fishera  as  to  striking  a  fish,  most  of  them  contending 
that  you  should  strike  as  soon  as  you  see  the  fish,  or  the 
swell  it  makes  in  its  attempt  to  seize  the  fly ;  others  that  it 
should  not  be  done  until  the  fish  has  turned  to  go  back. 
Some  maintain  (see  Scrope's  "Days  and  Nights  of  Salmon- 
fishing,")  that  you  should  feel  a  tug,  or  in  Scotch  parlance 
"a  rug,"  before  you  strike.  This  deliberate  way  of  dealing 
with  a  Salmon  is  advocated  by  "Ephemera." 

The  novice  in  his  agitation  will  be  apt  to  forget  any 
written  directions,  and  strike  violently,  or  too  quickly,  or 
not  at  all.  The  negative  action  is  the  least  objectionable  of 
the  three ;  for  if  the  fish  is  at  all  eager  he  will  generally  hook 
himself,  and  the  strain  on  the  rod  is  frequently  felt  before  the 
angler  has  time  to  raise  the  point  of  it.  So  in  most  cases  one 
can  take  little  credit  to  himself  for  hooking  the  Salmon,  for  it 
is  rather  the  act  of  the  fish  than  his  own.  The  hook  may  be 
struck  deeper  in  its  hold  by  a  dexterous  movement  of  the 
wrist,  and  this  is  advisable  if  the  fish  does  not  strain  the  rod 
sufficiently  to  do  so. 

Playing  a  Salmon. — A  person  who  is  accustomed  to  the 
use  of  the  reel  in  playing  other  large  fish,  will  soon  acquire  a 
reasonable  degree  of  self-possession  and  skill  in  killing  a 
Salmon.  In  doing  this,  three  important  things  are  to  be 
observed :  one  is  to  keep  up  the  point  of  the  rod  so  as  to 
bring  its  whole  spring  to  bear  on  the  fish,  and  by  no  means 
allow  him  to  "  straighten"  on  you  (i.  «.,  to  get  the  line  and 
rod  in  a  direct  line  between  you  and  him).  For  if  you  do,  and 
there  should  be  the  slightest  catch,  or  undue  pressure  on  the 
line  to  prevent  its  running  freely,  he  will  have  a  dead  pull  on 
you,  and  will  be  almost  certain  to  break  the  hold  that  the 
hook  has  in  his  mouth,  or  carry  away  your  casting-line.  The 
reel-line  itself  would  hardly  be  strong  enough  to  hold  a  large 
Salmon  under  such  circumstances,  particularly  if  by  coming 


SALMON. PI8EIN0. 


336 


towards  ,.ou,  he  should  get  some  slack  in  the  line  and  then 
suddenly  turn  and  rush  doyn  stream.  • 

By  undue  pressure,  I  mean  other  resistanop  fn  *i.     r 
racing  ou.  t,an  .  oa„^  ,,  ,  ^^Z^Z  e  /^  ^ 
reel,  or  by  that  slight  unif„r„  „f  .^  "«  , 

line,  or  of  the  thumb  on  the  rLT  T  f  ^        *'"''"'  ""^ 
uurao  on  the  reel,  which  only  an  aneler  cS 

expenence  with  perfect  self.pos.e,sion  can  give 
.         Some  Salmon.fi.hez.  use  reels  without  a  bearing  of  anv 
kmd,  depend.ng  on  this  acquired  delicacy  of  touch    but2 
only  safe  plan  is  to  have  one  with  a  click  for  theC.'  V  K 
<»— yandwithoutvariatiou;andt:L:':iU^^^^^^ 
tha  .fs  prudent  for  the  angler  to  offer  in  playing  a  S  C 
And  .t  .wonderful  how  slight  this  rcsisUnL  VXZZ 

mg  bearmg  of  a  springy  rod,  it  wearies  out  and  comoletelv 
exhausts  a  powerful  fish,  even  when  assisted  by  a  s  In^ 
current.  I  We  stated  on  a  preceding  page  .hrthe  rf 
ance  of  the  click,  with  the  friction  on  2  W 

.^aaastrre^trterTrera^m""" 
properly  managed,  and  to  convince  the  I        /  "  " 

lessens  the  chances  bf  securing™s  p^^I     ™^  ""^  ™'''""' 
When  a  Salmon  takes  thn  fl,,  i,^ 

-o^,and.ontheinsLrere:!ro':pr:a;:t: 

movmg  off  slowly  and  generally  a  little  way  up  str^i,^ 

-^entlyh    ma,,„^J:-:;-~^^^^^^ 

long  speed,  but  gradually  whf,n  if  ,• 

S  auuaiiy,  when  it  is  necessary  to  ^ind  up, 


366 


AMERICAN  ANOLBR'S  FOOK. 


keeping  a  taut  line  on  hi:  i  as  he  passes  down.  When  he 
gets  below  and  becomes  thoroughly  aroused  to  a  sense  of  his 
danger,  he  commences  a  series  of  desperate  leaps  or  long 
runs,  or  both  alternately.  If  he  takes  the  current,  he  may 
run  off  a  third  of  the  line  at  a  dash ;  then  the  point  of  the 
rod  should  be  turned  to  one  side,  butting  him  stoutly  to  get 
him  into  the  still  water  on  the  side  of  the  rapid.  If  this  can- 
not be  done  he  must  be  followed  down  stream,  recovering 
line  when  you  can,  and  giving  it  grudgingly  when  you  must, 
keeping  the  rod  in  the  mean  time  as  nearly  perpendicular  as 
possible,  and  giving  him  its  whole  spring.  When  he  leaps, 
if  he  is  near  you,  the  point  of  the  rod  is  raised ;  if  far  off  the 
point  should  be  lowered.  In  either  case  though,  after  a  leap, 
if  there  is  any  slack  line  it  should  be  immediately  recovered, 
and  the  usual  tension  given. 

Whether  fishing  from  the  shore  or  from  a  canoe,  there  is 
not  as  much  danger  of  losing  a  Salmon  as  one  might  suppose 
when  it  goes  over  a  pitch.  For,  as  I  have  just  said,  it  does  not 
rush  headlong  over,  but  drops  down  tail  foremost,  or  sideways. 
At  such  time  the  rod  should  be  kept  well  up,  to  ease  the  fish 
over  with  its  spring.  After  guiding  the  fish  carefully  througli 
the  safest  channel,  another  tussle  should  be  had  at  the  first 
favorable  place  to  get  it  in  shore,  or  out  (if  the  current. 

In  bringing  a  fish  within  reach  of  the  gaff,  it  is  not  safe  to 
press  him  harder  then,  than  at  any  other  time  of  the  contest. 
For  by  this  time  the  hold  of  the  hook  may  have  nearly  worn 
out.  Many  a  fish  is  lost  by  rough  usage,  or  even  a  little 
additional  force,  at  such  time.  I  have  had  the  mortification 
on  more  than  one  occasion,  of  seeing  a  good  fish,  after  he  was 
fairly  conquered,  rid  himself  of  the  hook  by  a  lazy  wollop,  or 
a  wave  of  its  broad  tail,  and  sink  to  the  bottom  or  move 

slowly  away. 

Some  writers  give  directions  as  to  what  part  of  the  body 


8ALM0N-PISHINO. 


867 


a  Salmon  should  be  gaffed  in     Ti,^  ft    .    i.. 

aome.,me.  happens  that  a  flsh  is  brou^h  "IIT '        "^^  " 

prolonged  con  J:i^rL: 7"'  "  ""^  "^  ""'"^'^'  '^»  " 
In  the  foregoing,  I  have  supposed  a  case    «  . 

wind  up     Or  he  tavTul  I    "  "T  '"^'^  *-  ^-  -n 

M»  po^rr.  proprr;::^ir  r;;:::  ;ir 

screw  are  as  nothinrr  f.,r^  ^  ^  i^ncsson 

M..he™o:tx:h:r;i™t:::„:r'^^ 

'band  is  required,  or  he   "      V      ''»<' -hen  the  gentlest 

--e  to  Jrds  .o;:  i7d  r  p:rr«  r  ^  »" 

l™  in  a  drift-Iog,  and  snap  it  like  eobw  ,  °"'""*- 
again.,,  the  sharp  edge  of  a  nnke  rU-  T^  "'  T  " 
pitch,  while  you  have  to  r„n  ,1         T  *       ""''  "  '"8'' 

the  rapid  in  a  M  !„  ?      '  '""''^  •"'"'^'  °'  ^hoo. 

w..en;ouha:t!:  roT  ;.:„  :o::r*  °"  '^^  ^°"- 

l.im  with  ,is  setli„..pole     R ,,    t  '^"'''■°°'"'  P*"  « 

a  &..mon  .„,  or  Xo?  ^  ^  ^''""'  '°  "^-'"^  -">« 


86& 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


CAMPING  ON  THE  RIVER. 

The  naxt  thing  in  importance  to  the  angler,  after  sport,  is 
his  comfort  on  the  river;  he  would  therefore  do  well  to 
bestow  some  thought  on  the  subject  before  leaving  home. 
His  tent,  his  stores,  his  clothing,  protection  against  mosquitoes, 
midges,  and  black  flies,  &c.,  are  all  matters  that  require  care 
and  foresight. 

Camp  Equipage.  The  Tent. — The  most  convenient  size  for 
the  accommodation  of  one  person,  though  it  might  answer 
for  two,  is  an  eight-foot  tent ;  that  is,  eight  feet  long,  eight 
feet  wide,  and  eight  feet  high,  to  the  ridge-pole.  There 
should  be  an  opening  at  each  end,  to  create  a  draught  of  aii 
through  it ;  it  should  also  be  provided  with  a  "  fly,"  which, 
in  addition  to  being  a  double  roof  to  the  tent,  can  be  stretched 
over  inclined  poles,  and  used  as  a  shelter  for  the  canoe-men, 
when  one's  stay  is  of  short  duration  at  a  station  where  there 
is  no  bark-shed.  To  shed  the  rain  well,  the  roof  of  the  tent 
should  have  an  inclination  of  not  less  than  forty  degrees; 
and  to  have  room  inside  and  allow  a  suitable  elevation  to  the 
mosquito-bar,  which  is  arranged  on  one  side  of  it,  the  walls 
should  be  three  and  a  half  feet  high.  The  best  material  for 
a  tent  of  this  kind  is  American  cotton  drill,  weighing  eight 
ounces  to  a  yard,  the  goods  being  thirty-three  inches  wide. 

At  most  of  the  fishing-stations  on  Salmon  rivers  frequented 
by  anglers,  bark  sheds  have  been  erected  at  diflFereno  times, 
and,  as  a  matter  of  mutual  interest,  they  are  kept  in  repair 
by  the  canoemen.  They  are  more  suitable  to  sit  or  eat  in, 
more  convenient,  with  an  impromptu  table  before  you,  to  tie 
flies  in,  and  even  more  comfortable  to  sleep  in,  with  the  usual 
log  fire  in  front. 

Many  persons  prefer  a  bed  of  spruce  boughs,  and,  to  protect 
themselves  thoroughly  from   the  moisture  of  the  ground, 


SALMON.PisHii^O. 


869 


can  be  u,ed     Tht   «         7        ™  "'"'  «™"'''  »  *"'"'>er 

of  .u  inob°e/o„  :':;;''2  ir  ?  "-'■ "''" "  "^ 

lengtb  is  thrust  throurell  hf  ^  .  t  ™'*''^  ^'^^  "■"» 
are  supported  by  forkrd  ,1,  /  ""^  ^'^  "'  "»  P°'- 
or  by  stou.  loga^  „I  ',  1'"'  V°°'7  »"  *"-  ^e  g™„d, 
^i.h  no.bes  ;„;  :M*'  ^;  ;",^J';  -^-  a.  .be  bead, 
poles  are  drawn  out  of  fb.  l  ,  ^  "  "™<''  *o 

with  the  tent.  To  '  po^l h!™' '""'.  *"  »'-'="-  Paclced 
four  feet  long  are  dnvT  '  "°'''""°-*'"'  ^'*»^  *'««  or 
corners  of  tb'e  stret  Z  Z  b^^""'  "'  """  "'  '"^  '"" 
of  rings  which  slide  al  ;.,  3  ^  „  V'  "'""'"'  "'  "^""^ 
to  stake  on  each  side.  The"  1°^  ^"'f"  '"«  '™"'  ^^^^ 
foot  of  the  bed  by  thi,  L  T        '"'''""'  '"  ""^  '"^"'i  or 

-  -  night^c!;:::;  ^re^tr  ^^^"^'''- 

regions  of  Salmon,  two  thick  hul'T  """'  '"  *« 

another  to  coyer  o;eTse If  wW         n t^"'  *°  ='^^P  ™'  -<» 
answer  if  yon  have  a  btl:  "r     '^  "'"'^°'-    '^^  "" 

»-..%ti.e  L  to'2:^~;yi:rr;r°™^- 

his  sport.    At  niffht  tJi^^xr  „.    •  .  ,        "^  ^  pleasure  of 

30  long  as  he  s^  aTd 7  'ZT  ^'T  '  "™'"'=-" 
gone  to  bed.    U  danime  ,1     K    ""^'l""'"-'""-  "fer  he  has 

*e  face,  and  gauntlt:r;h:Lnr''^"""™"  ^™"  ^- 

open  than  silk  Us^le  Jnd  V  T  .  ='""  *""  ''"■■^=-'  "-o 
^'  freely.  It  .  1  ^  ^  re t^a  rV"""  "^  "  "'™"^  '"^ 
'be  article  in  general  ^,7     T       '"""""^l^'o-bar  tbau 

of  this  fabric  a^TJa,        "         '"""'^  ''="'^^"  "^  ">™ds 
are  small  enough  .0  exclude  even  Uack-flie, 


370 


AMERICAN    ANQLER'8    BOOK. 


The  veil  should  be  made  in  the  shape  of  a  bag,  but  open  at 
each  end,  about  fifteen  or  eighteen  inches  long,  and  two  or 
two  and  a  half  feet  in  circumference.    A  piece  of  fine  gum- 
elastic  cord  is  run  in  the  hem  at  the  top  to  clasp  the  body  .)f 
the  hat,  while  a  similar  cord  in  the  hem  at  the  bottom  secures 
it  around  the  neck ;  the  rim  of  the  hat  keeps  it  out  from  the 
face.    The  bottom  of  the  veil  can  be  lifted  somewhat,  and  the 
stem  of  a  pipe  stuck  in  the  mouth  when  one  wants  to  smoke. 
Gauntlets  can  be  made  by  sewing  linen  cuffs  to  a  pair  of 
easy  old  kid  gloves ;  a  piece  of  gum-elastic  cord  run  in  a  hem 
at  the  top  of  the  cuff,  clasping  the  arm  under  the  coat-sleeve. 
Last  summer,  T  found  a  veil  and  gauntlets  of  this  description 
effectually  to  keep  out  these  unwelcome  visitors. 

Different  lubricating  compounds  have  been  recommended  as 
preventives:    among  these  are  tar  and  sweet-oil,   coal-oil, 
creosote  and  oil,  and  oil  of  pennyroyal.     The  latter  is  the 
cleanest,  is  not  offensive,  and  is  most  convenient  to  carry ;  it 
should  be  diluted  with  sweet-oil,  as  it  is  extremely  volatile. 
The  Canadians  make  a  "smudge"  to  drive  off  the  mosquitoes 
and  flies,  which   is  not   only  movable,  but  has  a  pleasant 
odor,  not  unlike  that  of  the  incense  burnt  in  Catholic  churches. 
It  is  made  by  beating  strips  of  dry  bark  of  the  white  cedar, 
and  binding  them  into  bundles  four  or  five  inches  in  diameter 
and  two  or  three  feet  long.    One  of  these  bundles  will  burn 
for  five  or  six  hours,  gradually  smouldering  away,  and  emit- 
ting a  pretty  stream  of  blue  smoke.    It  is  convenient  to  place 
by  one's  side  at  mealtime,  or  when  reading  or  tying  flies. 

I  will  not  endeavor  to  anticipate  by  description,  the  interest 
with  which  the  novice  will  mark  the  skill  and  readiness  of 
the  man  of  the  woods,  in  the  use  of  his  paddle  and  pole,  his 
axe  and  his  knife,  and  the  various  materials  and  appliances 
he  so  aptly  finds  in  the  forest,  for  making  rude  tables,  benches, 
stools,  beds,  baskets,  buckets,  &c. 


8ALM0N-FI8HINO. 


871 


-id  glaring  eolo.  i7 J    d  1      "  ''"""■  •  "r"""" 

suitable.  '   ^'g^t-gray  is  the  most 

e„a:\r::r:a"ittr  r  '"^"^^'  -'-  -^■ 

a  pair  of  small  pUe^'a  Z  '"'-""'^T"  """^  ""^  "''-• 

vials  as  large  a.  .he  end  of  „„r;lt'  "'   """^   '" 

three  or  four  tia  nkte,  '   ?"""  P™' "  ^"''^"'S  "'«  fch-broiler, 

other,  pew  Js;ot" ;;  ""V^ ""- '° "'  ■"'"  '-- 
If  .w  a„gier\::'r^:''::;\:;-"Of-'^.*e. 

-wage,  and  would  di.ij  Z'^ZTZ^tr:' 
canoe-men  are  subieftpH  ;.       t  ^°^^^^  ^^s 

a-a  in  making  ditt  ."J;  '^^  :tr;:rf  """^'"' 
cumbersome  trunks  into  .  K    u  "''"'  '""«'«  or 

3ions,as  man,  of'^r .    'CITZT  T ''"'""'■ 
-pet  or  India-rubber  wall   /™'d  hi     ''  °"'"  '" 

bundles.  '  ■"'  "^""P  -"laipage  ir 

Stores — Campin»  out  m  k.      •      ,     . 
be  attended  with  a°s  few  .         ,■"'''      "'*  ^'''  '''""W 
well  do  with-  stm   '  '\r        """'  ^  "  P^^™  «au 

.».wheneon.inualfe.4„,t:X"tXp: 


872 


AMERICAN    ANOLER'S    BOOK. 


tite.  A  moderate  assortment  of  such  things  might  include 
vinegar,  Worcestershire  sauce,  salad-oil,  essence  of  coffee  or 
"  caffeine,"  solidified  milk,  a  small  quantity  of  desiccated  meats 
and  vegetables  fur  soup  and  pottage,  and  a  box  of  claret,  if 
it  can  be  carried,  for,  as  I  have  before  remarked,  there  is  no 
beverage  like  it  with  fresh  fish. 

The  stores  that  go  to  make  the  real  staff  of  life  are  pork, 
ship-bread,  potatoes,  onions,  beans,  salt,  pepper,  butter,  tea, 
sugar,  &c.  It  may  be  asked,  Why  such  a  profusion  ?  or  it 
might  be  said  that  fresh  Salmon  is  good  enough ;  and  so  it 
is ;  but  one  becomes  satiated  with  it  afler  a  while,  and  longs 
for  some  of  the  common  things  he  ate  at  home.  The  canoe- 
men  will  not  forget  their  tobacco,  and  should  be  sure  to  have 
a  pound  or  two  of  rosin  to  patch  and  stop  up  the  cracks  in 
their  canoe. 

Cooking  Salmon.— On  the  river  there  is  a  variety  of  ways 
of  cooking  or  preparing  Salmon  for  the  table.  The  following 
are  a  few  simple  receipts : — 

To  boil  Salmon.— Have  a  sufiacient  quantity,  but  not  too 
much  water,  boiling  briskly  with  a  good  handful  of  salt  in 
it.  Cut  off"  a  piece  of  fish  of  suitable  size,  notch  it  to  the 
bone,  put  it  into  the  pot,  cover  it  up  close,  and  give  it  from 
ten  to  twenty  minutes,  according  to  its  size.  Serve  it  up  hot, 
with  some  of  the  liquor  left  after  boiling. 

To  broil  Salmon. — Cut  steaks  across  the  fish,  or,  if  length- 
wise, let  the  pieces  include  some  of  the  fs\t  glutinous  portions 
of  the  belly ;  lay  them  between  the  folds  of  the  wire  fish- 
broiler;  turn  it  often,  and  be  careful  not  to  overdo  them. 
When  served  up,  the  dish  should  be  placed  on  a  flat  hot 
stone,  and  your  plate  also,  if  you  prefer ;  butter  the  fish  well 
while  hot,  and  season  it  to  your  liking. 

Cold  Salmon.— Vnt  aside  part  of  the  fish  boiled  for  dinner, 
and  eat  it  cold  for  supper ;  it  is  extremely  delicate. 


8ALM0N-PI8IIlN(j. 


878 


and  sal,  wrap  u  >„  .  si„g,„  envelope  of  butLd  paperTd 

borough  y  .„  water,  pres,  it  slightly  between  the  hand, 

up.  A  Gnlse  of  three  pounds  should  be  left  i„  about  twenty 
mmuees,  and  one  of  four  pounds  five  or  ten  minute  1„72 
In  servng  it  up,  take  off  the  paper  covering  L  ironTfl  ^' 
hot  stone,  and  butter  it  while  ho      Oril  ^  "'" 

and  broiled  or  planked  lik^  Shad  ""  '""""^  '•"" 

"^>;«r«;  &w»»  is  excellent,  especially  for  breakfast 
when  one  becomes  somewhat  satiated  with  fresh  fish     T  e 
Zy  *  '.™'^'*"'»  «»«  P'-ess  of  kippering  fish     The 
Salmon, sspht  along  the  back,  and  the  bone  taken  ou  ;  U 
then  thoroughly  peppered  and  salted  inside  and  ou    „„d 
-pread  out  and  pressed  between  two  pie^s  of  birch  bfc 
a,d  on  the  ground ;  if  it  is  iu^^ded  for  immediate  use  from 
twelve  to  twenty.four  hours  is  sufHcient     I,  i,  1  " 

op™  by  means  Of  flat  Slats  of  cedar,  hu:„\::::ar: 
dried  m  the  sua  and  air  for  a  davT  or  two     wul  ■        , 

^'^^  Hppcred  Salmon  home  JZ::^^^::^ 

for  at  least  a  week  or  ten  days,  A  do^en  Salmon  prepared  for 
me  m  th.  way  by  Peter  Chamberlain,  whilst  at  tfeG  and 
Mso„  the  N-pissiguit  last  summer,  were  packed  at  Bafhl' 

brought  home  wuh  my  luggage   i„    excellent   condition 


874 


AMBHICAN    .4NQLBR'8    BOOK. 


When  you  got  home,  it  is  necessary  to  soak  a  piece  in  watir 
from  four  to  twcivrt  hours  /'according  to  the  length  of  time  it 
art*  been  kept)  before  broit  "g,  in  order  to  soften  it  and  get 
soiue  of  tl»o  salt  out. 

When  Salmon  are  smoked,  they  are  first  put  in  a  strong 
pickle  of  brine  for  twenty-four  hours,  or  salted  and  pressed 
between  pieces  of  bark,  as  already  described,  and  then  stretched 
with  slats,  and  smoked  with  chips  of  "  hard  wood"  (maple, 
birch,  &c.)  in  a  bark  hut  built  for  the  purpose.  It  requires  a 
longer  time  to  smoke  fish  than  to  kipper  them,  and  unless  a 
person  has  time  to  give  them  at  least  two  weeks  in  the  smoke- 
house, he  had  better  not  attempt  to  carry  them  home,  if  the 
distance  is  more  than  three  or  four  days'  journey. 

Law  and  Custom  on  the  River. — Although  there  is  no 
law,  properly  speaking,-  on  a  river  which  is  fre^  to  all,  still 
there  are  rules  of  right  and  courtesy  that  obtain,  or  at  least 
which  should  be  observed,  amongst  anglers. 

A  discreet  angler  will  not  consent  that  his  party  shall 
consist  of  more  than  two,  including  himself.  Two  are 
company  for  each  other ;  if  there  are  more,  a  smaller  propor- 
tion of  the  fishing  falls  to  each  rod,  while  sociality  is  not 
increased.  It  is  the  custom  to  apportion  the  pools  of  a  station 
as  fairly  as  possible  between  the  rods;  ard  to  make  the 
division  more  equitable,  and  to  prevent  the  inonotony  of 
one  angler  fishing  the  same  set  of  pools  every  dn  v.  thoy  are 
shifted ;  that  is,  the  rod  that  occupied  one  set  on  oi\.d  da/  will 
take  the  other  set  the  next  day,  and  vice  versa.  The  plan  of 
^l.anging  the  pools  at  noon  on  each  day  is  sometimes  adopted, 
ibU  the  new  occupant,  if  he  thinks  the  pools  have  been 
f:s.i  '  1. 10  I'.rsistently  by  his  predecessor,  can  rest  them  that 
after'  )0'.,  and  hav^  them  all  the  fresher  the  next  morning, 
bach  a  course  is  frequently  adopted  with  great  advantage  to 
one  who  follows  an  over-industrious  and  indiscreet  angler. 


im' 


•  llHON-HsaiKo. 


870 


A  proper  regard  for  tW  righto  of  bi.  .u„„o»s„„,  .t„„^,,  ^j,, 
.lw«y,re,tra.„.„„„.iaer.to,f„ir  M„r  in  ,ueh  o J„„  hlw 
ever  arde„t  a  sport-„,.„  he  ,„a,  bo.  I  have  «ee„  a Tallol" 
asher  contmue  to  whip  a  pool  under  a  hrigl.  glaring"""' 
long  after  tlje  fl.,h  had  .hown  ,,h„  ,ea,t  di,p,„m„:.o  L'  and 
van  hand  the  rod  to  one  of  hi,  canoe-men  to  give  it  a^ore 
t Uorough  thrash  „g,  because  his  right  to  the  pool  ..,u  d  pal 

of  Salmon.flshor  I  met  at  the  Grand  Falls  of  the  Ninissil^ 
to  summer.    A  fat,  short-winded  little  English  1  ^ 
Manehester  who  talked  largely  of  the  moor,twl(?)  ^.h^ 
bagged  on  the  Derbyshire  hills,  ana  .he  number    f  ..  ,,mon 
he  had  kdled  .n  a  single  afternoon  in  Sootland.  He  .a.  Z 

111  L?  ,  Tl    •■  rf  '""""'  '■^  "»  '"'"'"  °f  «'-'   -  - 
w    .mied  flask  wuh  h>m  on  the  river-side,  and  took  it  ea.vly, 

whde  one  of  h.s  cauoe.n.en  (an  expert)  would  thrash  the  wu.."' 

he  rod  to  kUl  .t;   reversing  the  eustom  of  the  Highland 
latrd  who  hooks  his  own  fish,  and  hands  the  rod  to  hi.lr 

he  could  not  eome  the  left-shouldered  cast"  (which  was 
necessary  m  fishing  some  fine  pools  from  the  right  bank  of  that 
r.ver),  or  that  he  "wanted  Francis  to  limber  hi  new  roll' 
am  no.  aware  of  the  exact  proportion  of  his  catch,  the  canoe- 
man  booked  for  him  nerh.n,  l.„if       i,        , 
..Ki,        .,  J         ,P      "P^  """•  Perhaps  three-fourths-  he 
set  hem  a.l  down  however  in  his  memorandnm.book  as'.he 
product  of  bis  own  skill.    His  canoe-man  afterward"  ;„"*: 
remarko    „  me,  with  a  broad  grin,  that  the  iittle  man  «    d 
have  ^«  more  Salmon,  if  he  had  handled  them  properly 
after  he  (the  sa.d  Fi-aneis)  had  hooked  them  for  him     The 
compa,uon  of  this  gentleman  was  jus.  his  opposite.-  a  young 
Sootehman,  who,  though  he  had  never  fished  for  Salmo! 


376 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


before,  cast  a  fly  admirably,  and  hooked  his  own  fish,  and 
killed  them  in  a  masterly  manner. 

Ver_y  few  fishing-stations  will  "  carry"  more  than  two  rods, 
and  new  comers,  finding  such  water  occupied,  generally 
refrain  from  intruding,  and  seek  other  grounds.  It  frequently 
happens,  though,  at  some  famous  place— I  would  instance  the 
Grand  Falls  of  the  Nipissiguit— that  the  new  comers  have 
travelled  a  long  distance,  and  there  is  no  station  beyond.  If 
the  stream  is  free  to  all,  there  is  no  gainsaying  their  right  to 
stop  and  fish ;  but  the  privilege  of  dividing  the  pools  is 
generally  concerted  to  the  first  occupants,  and  it  would  be  a 
breach  of  courtesy  and  fair  dealing  in  those  who  come  last,  to 
wet  a  line  without  consulting  them. 

When  pools  have  been  over-fished,  a  mutual  agreement  to 
rest  them  for  a  day  or  two,  or  every  alternate  day,  results 
beneficially  to  all.     Such  course  is  frequently  resorted  to. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SALMON  KIVEBS  OF  THE  BEITISH  PEOVINCES. 


"  Thou  pausest  not  in  thine  allotted  tasli, 

0  darklint;  River  1  through  the  night  I  hear 
Thy  wavelets  rippling  on  the  pebbly  beach, 

1  hear  thy  current  stir  the  rustling  sedge 
That  skirts  thy  bed.    Thou  intermittcst  not 
Thine  everlasting  journey,  drawing  on 

A  silvery  train  from  many  a  woodland  spring 
And  mountain  brook." 

Bbtant. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 
SALMON-BITURS  OP  THE  BE„.,SH  PEOVmcES. 

Mirimichi.--Ri8tiVo„nh«      m  .     \-  Canada  adjacent.— 

SALMON-RIVERS  IN  LOWER  CANADA 

Bess,on  of  all  the  Salmon  and  Sea-Trout  fl.,heries  in  Lowe. 
Canada  and  having  p.ocnred  the  enactment  of  a  protecZ 

the  following  adverfsement,  which  waa  i.,.„ed  from  the  fl,h! 

I808     I  have  added  a  few  rivers  not  found  in  the  original 

horuy  of  the  report,  issued  annnall,  b,  the  Dep  rtment 
an    of  ,„,ormat,on  received  from  correspondents.    The  law 
anci  by-laws  quoted  are  still  in  force,   hut  the  Canad  an 
Government    as  „t  the  present  time  (March.  I860)  new  and 
more  ellect.vely  protective  legislation  in  prepress  •-- 

"The  following  list  includes  the  principal  Salmon-rivers 
nd  Sea.Trout  streams  which  discharge  into  the  Saint  La" 
.ence  and  Saguenay  Bivers,  along  the  north-east  or  Labrador 
coast,    between    the    nrovime    l>n„„l  J^aoiaaor 

Sablo,A  .n^  ,1,      ■     '^  °  ''"""dary  eastwards  (Blanc 

Sablon),  and  the  nver  Jacques  Cartier,  above  Quebec ;  also 

(379) 


380 


AMERICAN    ANGLKR'S   BOOK. 


those  emptying  upon  the  south  or  eastern  shore  of  the  Saint 
Lawrence,    and   others   flowing   easterly   into  the    fiay    of 

Chaleurs. 

"In  addition  there  are  many  other  bay,  cove,  and  inlet 
stations  along  these  extensive  coasts,  but  which  are  disposable 
chiefly  as  sedentary  net-fishings  for  Salmon  and  Trout, 

"  The  immediate  expiry  of  the  lease  of  that  vast  territory 
commonly  known  as  'The  King's  Posts,'  opens  up  to  the 
public  competition  numerous  valuable  coast-fisheries  (such  as 
Tadousac,  Seven  Islands,  &c.),  besides  many  famous  Salmon- 
rivers  and  Sea-Trout  streams,  and  renders  disposable  certain 
commodious  building  establishments  long  occupied  as  fur- 
trading  posts,  by  tbe  Honorable  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  at 
the  mouths  of  the  most  important  of  these  fine  rivers. 

The  rivers  marked  *  in  the  annexed  list,  are  untried  with  fly,  or 
unknown  to  my  correspondents. 

Those  marked  f  are  more  or  less  valuable  for  fly-fishing. 
Those  with  no  mark  have  notes  as  correct  as  may  be. 


North  Shore. 
Discharge  into  River  St.  Lawrence. 


'^Esquimaux        . 

*Corkewetpoeohe 

*Ste.  Augustine  . 
*Sheop  Bay 
■*Liltlo  Moccatina 
*Netngamu 

*Napotetcope 
*Etamamu 
*Coucoacbo 
*01omano8hQeboo 

*Mu»quarro         < 

■*Washeecootai     . 
^Kegashka  .        . 

■f  Great  Natashquan 


Fine  Salmon-river.  Formerly  yielding  large  num- 
bers of  Salmon  each  season's  net  fishing. 

Neighboring  stream.  Contains  steady  run  of  Sal- 
mon. 

Well  supplied  with  Salmon. 

Considerable  size.     Good  Salmon-fishery  station. 

Discharges  large  body  of  water  by  several  channels. 

Large,  deep  stream.  High  falls  inside  Swarms  with 
Trout,     Salmon  ascend  it  only  to  the  falls. 

Empties  into  spacious  bay.     Holds  Salmon. 

Celebrated  for  its  Salmon -fishery. 

Discharges  into  a  fine  basin.     Good  Salmon-river. 

Large,  but  shoal  stream.  Holds  Salmon.  Is  re- 
markatile  for  its  white  or  silver  Trout. 

Bold,  rapid  river.  Good  net-fishery  station,  i^iiid 
to  affiird  fly-fishing. 

An  untried  but  promising  river. 

Salmon  abundant— steep  rapids  impeding  their 
ascent.     Fly-fishing  at  the  lalls. 

Famous  stream.  Salmon  of  finest  kind  and  nume- 
rous.    Excellent  fly-fishing. 


SALMON. RIVERS    OP    BRT 


TISH    PROVINCES.     381 


AgwanuH  .         , 

Nabetippi 

Paabasheeboo    . 

Little  Wiitscheoshoo 
fUreat  Watscheeshoo 

Corneille  . 
fRumuine  . 
fMingan     . 

fManitou    .         . 

■("Saint  John 
Magpie     . 

Supitagan 
Trout  River 
fMoisio 


fSto.  Marguerite  {en  bas) 
Pentecost . 
tTrinity  (Bay)     . 

fGoodbout, 

Betscie      , 
fMistassini 

English     .  , 

■fiiersimis   .  , 


fNipimewecaw'nan 

Jeremie     . 

Colombier 

Plover 

Blnncbo    . 
fLaval 

Sault  do  Cochon 

Portneuf  . 

Grand  Escoumain 

Q.  Bergoronne   . 
L.  Bergoronne    . 


•  S-^-'^ver.     Nearly  cleaned  out   '^• 

■  ^Zn  "'""■■     ^°  down,  but  recovering 

•  Small  river.     Nearly  cleaned  out.         "^ 

■  ExST'"'*"'"''""  «?»"<■«••  one  rod 

•  i!<.xcellent  not  and   fl«  fl„i,-        /.       '""■ 

knotn.  *'"'^""'   •'•^"'"•y  go"-!    and   well 

•  ^"'■y  '■"•««  st'oam,  affording  excellent  flv  fi  u- 

.     Oood  nct.fi.hery  for  Salmon,      irpd  ml    ■^• 
One  angling  pool  ^        '"'®  "''«'■• 

■     ^rn^nr-     C'»«fly  n«t.flahery. 

•  Small.     Cleaned  out  bv  nettino-      n 

•  Noted  for  numbers  of  woi  j  "^>i  ,  ^"'  "■'"'• 

^  and  lucrative  net-fisherf 'iine  ri^^^*"^'''^ 

•  f:nSaXod"'"^^'^"'"'--^^--«B''in.. 

•  omall;  affords  fly-fishing. 

.     J^^'l/iver,  but  small  and  run  down. 

'        pZIZVS-'-'     «'''-'-««•'-.  for  net.. 

•  'rtZt:nr"'Ar'''r"'''"^  *"''"'-'-    Scene,y 

branched  ''"'"'  "°  '^«  '^'"«"  of  iU 

SmalT"'^:/  f '"■f""-    ^^"'^^  «y-fi«l'-e- 

sarn.fiX"'L!r:sr^^"^'"^^^- 

Do.  Do. 

p.  .         Do.  Do. 

i.;'c,i„;""-'-'^  ■'•"" '»'  SI... 

Good  Trout-stream. 

^7rt  ^.';°"'-f  «*'«•     (Both  the  Bergeronne  rivers 
are  w.th.n  few  miles  of  Saguenay  a'nd  Tado"sacO 


fSt.  Margaret  (««  Aaw/) 


l>wc;/ar5re  into  Jiiver  Saguenay. 


'''^■■^T^Z:'.t:;2ss..]::::!z: 


382 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Little  Sagiienay 
St.  John's  (en  hant) 


Considerable  stream,  now  affording  no  Ashing.  Mill. 
dam  inside,  not  in  use. 

Do.  do. 


Black,  or  Salmon 
Murray 
Du  Gouffre 
8te.  Anne 
Montmorenoi 

'('Jacques  Cartier. 


Discharge  into  River -St.  Lawrence. 

Formerly  good  fishery.  Affords  no  fly-flahing. 
Flows  down  beautiful  valley.  Yields  Salmon. 
Much  deteriorated.     Needs  recruiting. 

Do.  Do. 

Cataract  at  mouth.     The  upper  water  swarms  with 

(river)  Trout. 
Excellent  Salmon-stream.     Not  a  Crown  river. 


*Du  Snd     .         . 
*Ouelle 

■•Grand  Metis      . 
*Matanne  . 
■•♦St.  Ann     . 
*Mount  Louis 

*Magdolaine 
♦Dartmouth 

*york 

*St.  John's  (rfii  Slid) 

*Grand  River 


South  Shore. 

Much  deteriorated.    Mill-dam  and  flshway. 

Do.  Has  three  mill-dams. 

Do.  Large  stream.     Has  dams. 

Do.  Has  dam,  and  Salmon-pass. 

Formerly  good.     Mill-dam  across. 
Important  stream.     More  noted  of  recent  seasons 

for  Sea-Trout  than  Salmon.     Untried. 
Salmon-river.     Untried  with  fly. 
Fir8t-cla89    stream,    flowing    into     GaspS    basin. 
Untried  with  fly. 

Do.  do.  do. 

Do.  do.  do. 

Mill-dam  above.     Untried  with  fly. 


*G.  Pabos  . 
•*G.  Bonaventure 

''''Cascapediacs 

*Nouvelle  . 

Skeminac  . 

'j'Matapediac 

•^Ristigouche 


*Patapcdiac 
*Mistoucho 


Discharge  into  Bay  of  Chaleurs. 

.     Salmon-fishery.    Superior  station.    Untried  with  fly. 

.  Large  and  valuable  stream.  Many  tributaries. 
Formerly  abounding  with  Salmon. 

.  Both  the  little  and  great  Cascapediacs  yield  num- 
bers of  Salmon. 

.     Good  Salmon-fishery  in  bay.     Untried  with  fly. 

.     Good  Trout-river. 

.  Formerly  abounded  with  Salmon,  but  needs  re- 
cruiting. 

.  Noblo  river.  Has  fine  tributary  streams.  Salmon 
fre(iuent  it  in  large  numbers,  and  of  heavy  weight. 
Head  of  Bay  Chuleurs. 

.  Branch  of  Ristigouche.  Salmon  ascend  it  about 
forty  miles. 

.     Feeder  of  Ristigouche.     Salmon-river. 


'■'  Nearly  all  the  rivers  described  in  the  foregoing  schedule 
are  tidal  streams,  and  most  of  them  have  stationary  Salmon 
and  Trout  fisheries  within  the  embouchure,  and   at  bays. 


SALMON. RIVERS    OF    BRITISH 


PROVINCES.      888 


er  8warm8  with 


:own  river. 


ascend  it  about 


coves,  and   inlets  on  either  side      Tl,„. 

shore  of  the  S,    T  ,  "  "P""   *=  ""^^ 

suort  ot  the  St.  Lawrence  descend  ont  of  wild  rockv  «nd 

mountainous  country.  '         ^'  "'"' 

"Most  of  these  streams,  with  their  numerous  tributaries 
and   he  large  lakes  at  the  bead  of  each  branch,  present  evv 

..:LX"n:mrbr"c[u:eri— »-- 

l.ly  between  Quebec  and  the  Sena,.      ""'°'  ^'^"""""'^ 
"  Si/nopsis  of  the  laws  and  by-laws  now  in  for.,  v    r 
fsheriea.  rtyuiation  o/  ^aZwon  anrf  2Vo«<     . 

(Act  22d  Viot.  cap.  86  ) 
S.c.0.4.  The  Governor  in  Council  to  grant  special  fishing  leases  and 
l-nses;  and  ™„ke  al,  needful  or  expedient  regu I  J  3  f 
management  and  disposal  of  fisheries 
5.  A  general  superintendent  and  local  overseers  to  be  appointed 
^^  -^  P-d  by  the  Government,  for  each  province.     ''' 

Iffi"?""*  "*^'  "*  "P"*  "^"^  -^-  f»  natural  or 
^_  artificial  propagation  of  Salmon  and  Trout. 

aldTrr"  '"  '"'°>'^"-««^-y  '-ited  betwixt  1st  March 
and  1st  August.     Fly-surface  fishing  extended  to  1st  Sep 

-her.    ^-ption  in  procuring  spawn  for  seientifi!  pi 

26.  Nets  and  fishing  apparatus  shall  not  obstruct  the  main  channel 

:  rr  ""'  7  ''-'' '  ^"^  ^-'^  ^^'^-^  or  course  stl  b 
^^  at  leas  one-third  of  the  whole  breadth  of  a  river. 

^^     27.  Owners  of  dams  must  attach  fishways  thereto. 

^».  All   parties  concerned   in    breach  of  24ti,    «    r       ,. 

liable  ^  fine  or  imprisonment  '    '"'"    '"'^^^ 

"    29.  The   meshes  of   Salmon-nets    must  measure  five  inches  in 
extension  from  knot  to  knot. 


881 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


<J 


"^^^^ 


Section  31.  Trout-fishing  illegal  bet-ween  20th  October  and  Ist  February. 
"      33.  Netting  for  Trout  in  any  lake  or  stream  prohibited,  except 

upon  the  River  St.  Lawrence. 
"       36.  Purchase,  sale,  or  possession,  during  prohibited  seasons,  of 
any  Salmon  or  Trout,  made  a  punishable  offence. 

Regulations  under  Order  in  Council. 
Bt-Law  a.— Parties  forbidden  to  occupy  Salmon  or  Sea-Trout  fishery 

stations  without  lease  or  license  from  the  Crown. 
M       B. The  use  of  nets  confined  to  the  brackish  waters  within  the 

estuary  tideway ;    and   forbidden  upon  the  fresh-water 

streams  above  confluence  of  tide. 
"       C— All  nets,  &c.,  to  be  set  no  less  than  two  hundred  yards 

apart. 
"       E.— No  other  fishing  whatever  allowed  over  limits  covered  by 

exclusive  leases  or  licenses  from  the  Crown,  except  by 

express  consent  of  lessees  or  licentiates. 
«        F.— Prohibits  capture  of  Salmon  or  Sea-Trout  by  torchlight,  and 

with  leister  or  spear. 
"       H. The  receipt,  gift,  purchase,  sale,  and  possession  of  speared 

Salmon  or  Trout  declared  illegal. 
u       J.— No  mill  rubbish  to  be  drifted  awaste  in  any  Salmon  or  Seiv 

Trout  river. 

"Appropriate  penalties  of  fine  or  imprisonment,  with 
forfeiture  of  materials  and  fish,  are  provided  by  law  for  the 
contravention  of  the  several  preceding  sections  and  by-laws. 

"  Also,  effective  and  summary  modes  of  proceeding  are  laid 
down  for  recovery  of  the  same." 

The  following  is  an  account  of  ten  days'  fishing  in  the 
Moisie,  in  the  summer  of  1858,  by  J.  M.  S.,  Esq.,  a  noted 
Salmon-fisher  of  Toronto,  Upper  Canada.  It  was  originally 
printed  by  request  for  private  circulation.  The  average 
weight  of  fish  is  probably  greater  than  the  best  river  in  Scot- 
land would  produce  at  the  present  day.  I  still  adhere,  how- 
ever, to  the  opinion  I  have  already  expressed,  that  Salmon  in 
the  rivers  of  Scotland  are  generally  larger  than  they  are  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 


SALMON. RIVERS   OF  BRITISH 


I'KOVINCES.     886 


^  ^aK  ^»»:^*.„,  ™  .^,^^^^^^  ,.^  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 


No.  of  Dayg. 

Ist  day, 

2d      " 

3d      " 

4th     " 

5th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 

10th 


Salmon.    Orllie. 


<i 


1 
1 

4 
4 
4 
3 
4 

3 

2 

2 


0 

0 

2 

2 

3 

2 

1 

0 

1 

1 

li 


Weight. 

131b. 
lOi 

5.  6,  10,  12,  38,  40J,* 
7.  8,  10,  12,  23,  24, 

4J.5,6,  llj,  iij,  1938^ 

5,  6,  19J,  30,  34, 

6.  12,  24,  26,  36i 
12,  14,  36J, 

6,  9,  25}, 
5,  22},  29, 

673  IblT 


Langth  of 
Ingest  Fiih. 


3.9  and  3.11 

3.9 
3.6  and  3.7 
3.8| 
3.9 
3.3 
3.5 


Average  weight  of  Salmon     .  o,.  ,. 


Grilse 


5|  " 


itse.nn.0  the  St  wTlCC""  tT™  ""'"'  ^"""''' 
fifteen  leagues  west  of  a!!;  ,  T'  '"='°*  S«^«»  ^ands, 
leagues  be  orQ^LJ    It  '  T,  ™'  '"""'"'  ""^  ^""^ 

a  schooner  from  Quebec  orT  ^^  ^  ^^^"^^  1^^  "'-"-ng 

-'sBayOompanXw.  :i,r,    "°  """^^  '"  *^  ^^^^ 
J  Pcinj  s  Doat,  which  leaves  early  in  Mav 

Magaoime  and^thet  "of  w St:;,'";':  r*'"""' 
of  w,.ioh  have  never  „ee„  «shed  :..:;'' «/  '""■°"'  '"""^ 
_^l:i^I-ie_ha_s^„,s  been  considered  the  best  Salmon- 


886 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


rivor  on  the  coast,  but  it  has  been  so  poacbea  and  bedevilled 
with  nets,  torches,  seines,  and  all  sorts  of  things,  that  it  ia 
comparatively  nothing  to  what  it  was,— still  I  intend  to  fish 
it  this  year,  and  if  any  American  gentlemen  should  happen  1o 
visit  the  ground,  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  show  them  where  a 
good  cast  may  be  obtained. 

"  I  may  as  well  remark,  that  althou^'h  the  Moisie  is  a  large 
river,  there  is  really  not  room  for  more  than  three  rods,  upon 
such  posts  as  I  have  hitherto  discovered,  without  interfering 
with  each  other." 

Either  the  Moisie  or  Mingan  is  now  leased  by  two  or  three 
gentlemen  of  Boston,  who  fish  it  every  summer.  Thj  last 
Teason  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  rare  spo.t;  a  great  many 
fish  were  killed,  many  of  them  of  unusual  size,— two  or 
three  over  thirty  pounds. 

Two  Salmon-fishers  of  St.  John,  N.  B,.  last  summer  made 
an  excursion  to  the  coast  of  Labrador.  rUey  called  in  their 
schooner  at  Bathurst  for  boats  and  to  get  canoe-men;  one 
of  the  latter  on  his  return  gave  a  glowing  account  of  the  sport 
which  these  gentlemen  had.  A  brother  of  the  rod  at  St.  John 
promised  to  send  me  an  account  of  the  trip.  I  regret  I  am 
obliged  to  send  this  to  press  before  hearing  from  him. 

SALMON-RIVERS  OF  NEW  BRUNSWICK,  AND  THOSE  OF 
CANADA  ADJACENT. 

In  giving  a  list  of  Salmon-rivers  under  this  head,  I  will 
only  advert  to  those  in  which  the  angler  has  a  hope  of  sport. 
Those  in  which  the  rod -fishing  has  been  destroyed,  by  net, 
spear,  and  high  dams,  I  pass  over,  and  refer  the  reader,  who 
wishes  information  about  Salmon-fisheries  as  a  matter  of  com- 
mercial or  statistical  importance,  to  Mr.  Perley's  report  of  the 
British  fisheries  of  New  Brunswick.  I  shall  first  mention 
the  rivers  which  have  been  described  to  me  by  others,  and 


«AL««K.«,vE„soF„RrTr,,>P„ov,»cEs.    387 

o         ""-"■8"™">«fo"owinsacoount<,fit._ 
"DenrN.-The  Mirimiclii  has  been  „  fi,     c  , 
l»"  <1-  not  and  , pear  have  .lonthei"      L       ^"''"""••■■™'-. 
nearly  every  oth  r   river   iN        ^  "''"" ''' "''' "'»■' 

s-e,y  w„:.h  visUi„7  „  '  ,  Ih    r"'f :     """''  '    '' 
— ,_ryea„;everj;;ir:^^^^^^^^^^ 

angler  to  pas,  it  by  for  if  T  7  7  /  "''"  •'"'""°  ""^ 
never  forget  the  we,:le  ve  1  by  L";"'*";' '  '  *»" 
toe,  of  that  wretched  place  The™  f  "  ""''  "'"'''"'■ 

and  a  half  pound,,  „„,|  I  „,„„  thou  ,ht Tthe  /        "" 

tWng  I  had  ever  ,een.     The  „ev.  "hv  T     •      ,  ^'"""■'■"' 

of  three  and  a  half  pound,  C^hf.  "'^''"'  *""'* 

thi,  river.  '  "'""'  "^'^S^'  ™glit  ir. 

"My  next  move  wa,  „p  ,„  -clear  Water/  which  i,  reallv 

™.nsa,itt,e:;t:;:;r:;Lr::e::rr^^^^^^^^ 

n,  up  or  down  stream,  one  can  see  tliree  or 


388 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


■flill 


<a: 


four  hills,  one  boyond  the  other.     I  killed  a  few  Grilse  here 
and  saw  a  few  Salmon. 

"The  next  catnp,  and  the  last,  is  at  'Burnt  Hill,'  five  and  a 
half  miles  higher  up,  and  it  is  certainly  the  best  place  upon 
the  river.      It  is  on  the  left  bank  just  below  Burnt  Hill 
brook,  upon  the  hard  rock ;  for  the  hills  here  come  down  to 
the  edge  of  the  stream,  and  the  only  objection  to  it  is,  that 
the  spring  is  on  the  other  side,  and  the  frequent  passage  o\ 
the  canoe  disturbs  the  fi.sh.    There  is  a  good  cast  not  ten  feet 
from  the  tents,  and  fine  water  both  above  and  below.    If  an 
angler  were  fortunate  enough  to  have  a  rise  of  water  while 
here,  which  I  had  not,  he  would  still  have  fine  sport ;  but  in 
low  water  it  is  time  lost,  except  indeed  he  be,  as  I  was,  a 
beginner,  and  then  I  could  give  him  no  better  advice  than  to 
go  to  McKay's  at  Boiestown,  and  send  for  William  McKiel, 
and  put  himself  under  instructions,  to  as  good  a  man  as  ever 
threw  a  fly  or  killed  a  Salmon. 

Wishing  that  we  may  yet  meet  upon  the  banks  of  a  fine 
Salmon-river,  where  the  spear  and  the  net  are  unknown: 

"  I  remain,  yours  truly, 

"S." 

The  Mirimichi  is  reached  by  way  of  St.  John,  New  Bruns- 
wick, from  whence  there  is  a  boat  every  evening  for  Fred- 
ericton,  on  the  river  St.  John.  Hero  the  angler  buys  his 
stores,  and  takes  the  stage  for  Boiestown,  where  he  engages 
his  canoe-men.  As  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  letter,  the 
glory  of  the  Mirimichi  as  a  Salmon-river  has  departed. 

The  Ristigouche.— Although  this  river  is  still  frequented 
every  summer  by  great  numbers  of  Salmon,  it  is  said  to 
afford  no  fly-casts  on  account  of  its  want  of  rapids  and  proper 
pools.  My  informant,  a  canoe-man  who  accompanied  a  party 
of  anglers  one  summer,  could  not  tell  me  how  high  they 


8ALM0N. RIVERS    OP    BRITISH    n  u 

BHITI8H    PROVINCES.       889 

nscondod  l!,o  rivor   hut  u^  .. 

.10  are  not  goiiomlly  reliublo  ns  res^ards  sohri.f. 
honesty,  nor  are  they  ahvavs  Lmo.l   .  sobriety  or 

•1    •       «  ■    ««»>vajs  good   canoe-men      TJiio    ;*  • 

•aid.  i»  I,  flne  river  for  r«l.fi,hi„^,  '  '"'■  "  « 

a  sailing-craft.  ^^  '^*^®  '^^y  ^Q 

I"  going  from  Shediac  to  Bathur«t  one  crosses  a  . 

'H'^ny  nvers,  some  of  them  quite  small  iL    T  ^'''''' 

a.o  abounded  in  Salmon.  On  so  e  f  th  T/""' '"" 
cloubt,  formerly  fine  rod-fishin.  "'  *'"^  ^^"^'  ^ 

""    '"'  °--  "'■•«"  miles  from  Bathurst.     Th„  Mid     '  Rr 

" — ^ — o* 

b«a.r,.  '  •  ""'  """""■■'"«•.  .,0  wi.l,i„  the  Oanad  ,„ 


890 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


The  next  river,  which  outers  on  the  south  side  of  the  town 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  fishing  last  sumnner,  spending  six 
pleasant  weeks  in  doing  so;  it  is  the  most  famous  river  in 
the  proviuoe.     I  will  describe  it  at  length. 

The  Nipissiguit.* — The  usual  mute  in  going  direct  from 
"the  States"  to  this  river,  is  from  Boston  to  St.  John,  New 
Brunswick,  by  one  of  the  boats  of  the  International  line, 
which  leaves  every  Monday  and  Thursday,  at  8  A.  m.  ;  the 
time  occupied  in  the  passage  is  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty- 
four  hours.  The  cars  leave  St.  John  every  morning,  and 
arrive  at  Shediac,  on  the  Northumberland  Strait,  a  distance 
of  a  hundred  and  ten  miles,  to  dinner.  From  thence  to 
Chatham,  eighty  miles,  and  from  Chatham  to  Bathurst,  forty- 
five  miles,  the  only  reliable  means  of  conveyance  is  in  an 
open  stage,  and  even  then  one  may  have  to  take  an  extra  or 
lie  over  a  day  at  Chatham.  A  boat  leaves  Shediac  for 
Chatham  every  two  weeks,  on  the  arrival  of  the  cars  from 
St.  John ;  and  if  the  day  can  be  ascertained  from  the  St.  John 
papers  before  leaving  home,  one  may  avoid  a  night  on  the 
road.  The  roads  of  New  Brunswick,  however,  being  kept  in 
repair  by  the  government,  are  hard  and  level,  and  the  horses, 
generally  two  in  a  team,  much  "  better  to  go"  than  one  would 
suppose  from  their  appearance. 

Bathurst  is  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nipissiguit,  at  the 
head  of  a  beautiful  little  harbor  on  the  Bay  of  Chaleurs, 
where  Thomas  Baldwin,  a  clever,  obliging  Irishman,  keeps  a 
good  hotel,  and  will  give  an  angler  all  the  assistance  and 
information  he  rei^aires.   Bela  Packard,  an  intelligent  An«9ri- 


*  It  appeals  strange  that  the  Author  of  "  Salmon-Fiahing  in  Canada."  in 
giving  the  foregoing  list  of  rivers,  including  those  flowing  into  the  Bay  of 
OliuleurH,  should  omit  the  Nipissiguit,  which,  although  in  New  Brunswick, 
is  iishcd  every  summer,  by  anglers  from  Quebec.  Nor  does  he  mention 
Ihe  Tittigouche,  in  the  same  Province. 


can  who  settled  there  forty  vear.  a„„   .1 

anglers;  and  those  »h„       /         ^  '     ™  "Commodates 

seventy,  has  ^0.10:^  t ^,1^^  ^r;'!;"  ■  ■"""  "^ 
New  Brunswick    ^nrl  k  •  ^"^  *^^  "^^^^  of 

Yankees,  a Tt l  inTl  t::':^''':™"''^'  """'  '"^  -« 
post.  hin.  on  the  «ZZy  ^^^ZToT'''"-  ""'"  "^ 
is  also  thoroughly  acquainted  ^kllT''""""^-  ^^ 
requirements  of  the  angler  when  In  2  '  "'  *' 

him  into  good  hands.  '  """•'  """^  ""  P« 

Although  most  of  the  pools  on  the  N:„-    ■     • 
..fVorn  the  shore,  a  canoe  is  indispenj   e  fn'^rn!'::: '^"^^ 
well  a,  in  travelling  the  river    TI,n„  •  *         ™'  "" 

Indians  of  birch  bark     ThT  '°.  "*  ""  "*  ''^  ""^ 

.,.,.,        .   "  ""'"'•     ^ney  are  preferred  on  aocnnnt  „f 
their  bght  weight,  a  great  desideratum  in  makinZr  T 
»hich  occur  frequently  on  this  river.  *       ''°"''«'^' 

There  are  many  requisites  that  go  to  make  »  „„„  1 

HcshouldhaveacharacterforsobrietyIdh„  ,  T"""™- 
beathletie,quick,cool,ofunfli„chL;I;:":;n^^ 
he  should  be  acquainted  with  ever^  rlpid  ooor  .  ^ "' ' 
*e  river,  where  the  fish  are  accu'trd  o  L,  d^ff  ^ '? 
stages  of  water;  and  should  be  a  thor„„  1,  7  •  "" 
as  a  good  „W.„„„.  The  ca  „e  meZlhr^^r"'  "  "^" 
sess  these  amphibious  qualities  to  a  gr  at  l^rXr  ''™" 
who  e  families-the  Chamberlains,  the  Ventfte  J  T 

Buchcts,the  Youngs,  and  other^who.;a2  „  r ""'  '' 
paddling  a  canoe  as  young  ducks  tak  t^lttr't'  ",' 
these  have  spent  every  aum.n.r  f  /  ^°-^  °^ 

empioyofan^ersfrrrrZdt;  ic'7'rt'"''^ 

vinces,  and  the  States,  drawn^hither  t  stlrt  '  ;1  .' r"' 
on  the  Nipissiguit.     Some  of  these  men  ""* 

anglers,  and  can  mve  th. ,  *  ^''°  "^P^" 

a  can  give  the  tyro  mauy  useful  hints.    I  shall 


892 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'8    BOOK. 


never  forget  the  interest  John  Chamberlain*  evinced  in  my 
success,  when  I  told  him  I.  had  never  killed  a  Salmon :  sug- 
gesting, by  some  well-timed  hint,  or  modestly  showing,  how 
my  casting  could  be  improved,  and  apologizing  (however 
serviceable  his  advice)  for  the  intrusion. 

All  the  stores  that  are  really  necessary  on  the  river,  and 
many  of  those  that  may  be  called  luxuries,  including  good 
brandy  and  fine  Scotch  ale  and  whiskey,  may  be  had  of 
Messrs.  Ferguson,  Rankin  &  Co.,  at  Bathurst.  Desiccated 
vegetables  and  meat,  solidified  milk,  essence  of  coffee  (if  the 
angler  wants  them),  smoking  tobacco,  and  claret,  he  had  better 
take  from  home.   As  to  the  quantity  of  provisions  required  for 


*  The  author  of  the  "  Game  Fish  of  the  North"  makes  this  uncalled  for, 
and  certainly  unmerited,  mention  of  the  Chamberlain  brothers:  "The 
following  are  good  men:  John,  Peter,  and  Bruno  Chamberlain;  John 
makes  a  good  fly,  but  is  sulky  and  wilful ;  Bruno  is  lazy ;  Ned  Veno  and 
David  Buchet,  both  of  whom  are  excellent  and  willing." 

From  a  long  summer's  acquaintance  with  John,  I  found  him  exactly 
the  reverse  ;  he,  with  his  brother  Peter,  were  my  canoe-men.  They  were 
always  willing,  respectful,  and  untiring  in  their  efforts  to  show  me  the 
best  fishing,  and  to  promote  my  comfort  by  a  hundred  little  acts  of  kind- 
ness and  coyrtesy  that  appear  to  be  inherent  in  French  Canadians ;  and  I 
know  that  my  appreciation  of  these  honest  fellows  is  fully  endorsed  by 
such  men  as  Messrs.  Lilly,  Emmet,  Nicholson,  Cooper,  and  other  accom- 
plished anglers.  John  attributes  the  remarks  of  the  author  I  have  quoted 
to  the  ill-humor  of  his  friend  "  Dalton,"  who,  one  summer,  had  Peter  and 
Joh.i  for  his  canoe-men,  and  whom  John  describes  as  an  irascible  little  old 
gentleman,  who  broke  a  great  many  tips,  and  smashed  countless  flies 
against  the  rocks  ;  who  would  not  be  advised,  but  insisted  on  having  his 
canoe  in  the  middle  of  a  pool,  while  fishing  it,  much  to  the  terror  of  the 
Salmon  ;  and  "  carried  on  generally"  in  the  most  unamiable  way. 

As  for  Bruno,  there  is  no  better  canoe-man  ;  he  is  one  of  the  toughest, 
most  untiring,  and  cheerful  fellows  on  the  Nipissiguit.  I  say  this  with  no 
wish  to  underrate  other  canoe-men,  but  as  an  act  of  justice  to  my  friend 
John  and  his  brother  Bruno. 


HIRERS    OP    BRITISH    PROVINCES.       89& 

a  trip,  it  would  be  wpH  f,^  i^,      .1 

i-  v^  UB  weij  to  leave  that  to  Me^^va  v^r. 

of  protecios  the  river  frLtle  J  'j  ■  ""'"^""  ^-i"' 

™«  let  on  the  fl..  of  last  Ju  X  the  T""^  "''""«■  " 
gusc,  of  Bathurs,  and  the  pri  JZe  ofTr"'"  ""'■  ^''■ 
«,o„s  was  suh.,et  to  different  pa^  1 : h!"  P'  "'  '"' 
M  time.  This  was  the  first  time  thefi  1  ^  '  "  "P""" 
NewBrunswiek  had  been  e  ed  to  ^t  "d '  ""/T  """ '" 
anglers,  .ho  had  hefore  resorted  to  t  fls  "j"  '  f  ""^ 
parts  of  the  province,  were  loud  n  IZ  '"''  °"""- 

introduction  of  an,  ;u,e  tL  h  r™:   1T  "'  '"^ 

laws  of  the  "Old  Country"  and  .7  °f  *«  game 

few  of  them  visited  the  riv;r  Th  !  """'"""  ™  *"' 
f-  Montreal  and  Q.^Zj^lSTT'^'T 
eame  around  by  stcamer-who  rented  L  "'''° 

-eralofthestationsofMr.;e;t„;X;:r"''^""«      ' 
Grand  Falls  were  in  request     iC    i  P""""  ™'' 

Willis's  Piteh  Buct^^^r;;:: ;  ;"?■  t^  ''^'' 

We  no  particular  name,  s.^ZZ^:^:^^'  T 
bracmg  ,„  all  ,nore  than  a  do.u  good  casL  The:  ,  .flX 
of  the  season  is  found  here,  for  the  first  run  of  s  l      """"« 

-"nger  about  these  pools  awhile,  :C:XTer;; 


894 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


to  tlie  upper  part  of  the  river.  The  land  on  each  aide  of  the 
"Bough  Waters"  being  owned  by  different  individuals,  the 
leasing  of  the  fishing  privilege  of  the  river  does  not  debar 
any  angler  from  these  pools,  and  every  summer  they  aro 
assiduously  fished  by  people  from  the  town  and  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  angler  who  camps  here  frequently  finds  his 
morning's  cast  anticipated  by  an  earlier  riser  than  himself, — 
generally  some  Canadian  stripling  fishing  for  his  breakfast  or 
dinner,  many  of  whom  cast  a  fly  with  astonishing  lightness 
and  accuracy,  and  if  their  tackle  was  as  good  as  the  city 
angler's,  the  latter  would  stand  a  poor  chance  in  fishing  after 
them.  A  few  flies  though,  a  few  shillings,  and  a  little  good 
humor,  properly  expended,  will  buy  them  off.  Mr.  N.,  of  St. 
John,  and  the  writer,  last  summer  bought  off  a  persistent 
young  fellow  of  this  kind,  by  employing  him  as  camp  keeper, 
at  the  extravagant  price  of  fifty  cents  a  day ;  he  proved  to  be 
an  excellent  canoeman,  and  did  us  good  service.  But  these 
competitors  seldom  have  a  canoe,  and  cannot  get  to  many  of 
the  best  pools  in  high  water  without,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
they  arc  preserved  to  the  angler  who  has  one.  The  first 
Grilse  also  are  taken  at  the  "  Rough  Waters,"  and  about  the 
middle  or  20th  of  July,  they  come  in  such  numbers  as  to 
give  fine  sport. 

Botind  Rock,  the  next  station,  is  about  two  miles  above 
Rough  Waters.  It  has  a  half-dozen  or  so  of  excellent  pools ; 
the  best  is  that  in-shore  near  the  camp,  called  the  "  Rock- 
pool."  Here  within  a  fly-cast  of  my  tent  door  I  killed 
my  first  Salmon, — an  epoch  in  the  life  of  an  angler  which  he 
marks  "with  a  white  stone."  I  had  hoped  to  be  initiated 
gradually,  killing  first  a  Grilse  and  then  a  small  Salmon,  but 
fortune  would  have  it  otherwise,  and  with  a  rod  and  a  fly  of 
my  own  make,  I  brought  to  gaff  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes 
a  splendid  fresh-run  fish.    "  Bon  poisson !"  exclaimed  Peter,  as 


S  ALMON-Ri  vwp  D   «™   ^ 

RIVEK8   OF   BRITISH    PROVINCES.        396 

Of  the  spring  baW  t  ,^^^^^^^^^^^^  "^  ^^^^  ^1.  hoo. 

to  sixteen  pounds.  '      ^  '^""^^  ^^^*  ^^«  ^^^ex 

Six  weeks  later  I  hooked  mvlast  fi.li  nf  .1, 
same  pool,  and  killed  it  in  th  ^t      '^^  «"^nmer  in  the 

,     ,    f  "  ^°  the  same  eddv  belnw     tv. 

ful  Nipisaiguit  ""=""«'""''  »f  a  summer  on  the  beau. 

the  river.    Man,  fll  LTlt  T""*"  ""  ''"S'''™  ^^^^  ^i-' 

rocky  bank.    About  ei».i  ^        "«  ""^  P'ecipitous 

estaUishment  tJZ^ZZT:''  '''''  ^«°'  "  P^"-* 
i-arrel.  of  salted  m  Zell       '"'"'  "^  ^'^  '""'^'«' 

were  taken  b,  ^^ir^IlZ':^,^:::-  ^""^ 
and  above.  °         "^^^  ^*  this  place 

Bittafmk,  two  or  three  miles  above  has  tw.         i       . 
there  was  formerlv  e-ood  fi  K-       T  P°^'''  ^^«^« 

rooks    whi^i^  ,  isiLgujar  appearance  of  thp 

rocks,  which  seem   to   have   been   broken  and  lifted    fr 
horizontal   strata,  and  piled   with   remarkable 
parallel  layers  like  mason's  work.  '"'"'^^^  '^ 

The  next  station  is  Mid  Landina     Hpr.  .1.      • 
tirougb  a  deep  narrow  gorge,  ttat  1  ^^T^, 
across.     The  rann^  rr,^.,  xi  ^     ^         ^  biscuit 

*e  Wer  eLTLTorl  ^  ^^'^  "'  ^^  "'^^  ^' 

J'    rmiyieet.     There  is  one  quiet  pool 


396 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


below  the  gorge  said  to  be  good  at  low  water,  but  I  did  not 
raise  a  fish  in  it.  There  are  also  three  or  four  casts  above ; 
two  of  them  are  in- shore  along  the  margin  of  the  gorge, 
where  I  had  good  sport  in  stopping  over-night,  killing  two 
fine  Salmon  in  the  afternoon,  and  two  more  next  morning 
before  breakfast.  I  afterwards  took  three  Grilse  in  one  of  the 
same  pools,  when  passing  it  at  broad  noon. 

Chain  of  Bocks,  three  miles  above,  is  said  to  afford  good 
fishing  occasionally,  though  in  camping  here  a  night,  and 
fishing  the  three  pools  late  in  the  afternoon  and  early  in  the 
morning,  I  did  not  hook  a  fish,  having  only  two  faint  rises. 
This  is  a  poor  camping  ground,  much  infested  with  flies,  and 
has  no  spring  near  it. 

Grand  Falls,  two  and  a  half  miles  further  on,  and  twenty 
miles  from  Bathurst,  is  the  last  fishing-station  for  Salmon  oa 
the  river,  the  height  of  the  falls  preventing  them  from 
ascending  further.  In  former  years  this  was  a  favorite 
resort,  when  four  or  five  anglers  would  find  good  sport  for 
weeks.  But,  alas !  two  rods  now  are  as  many  as  the  station 
will  well  carry,  and  even  then  careful  fishing  and  frequent 
resting  of  the  pools,  for  a  day  or  two  at  a  time,  are  required  if 
the  water  is  low.  The  fishing  here  commences  '^t  least  two 
weeks  later  than  it  does  at  Bough  Waters,  and  it  is  not  until 
after  the  8th  or  10th  of  July  that  one  can  be  sure  of  sport. 

No  description  can  couvey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  rugged 
sublimity  of  the  scenery  here.  The  wide  shallow  river,  sud- 
denly contracted  into  a  narrow  channel,  chafes  and  foams  over 
boulders  and  huge  fragments  of  rock  in  its  mad  course, 
and  leaping  two  smaller  precipices,  comes  thundering  down 
the  main  pitch,  thirty  feet,  into  a  dark  ravine,  which  in  the 
course  of  timp  it  has  worn  through  the  hard  rock.  After 
pursuing  its  wa^,  and  widening  its  channel  through  the 
gorge,  to  some  sixty  or  seventy  yards,  it  flows  with  abated 
current  into  a  wide  deep  basin  a  mile  and  a  half  below. 


SALMON. RIVERS   OP  BRlTraiT   »« 

BRITISH   PROVINCES.       897 

paddle  in  s.,nJX1^^r.,Z  tV  '"'  ^'^  ""^ 

ihe  camp,  with  its  two  capacious  h-,.1-    i.  j    ■ 
west  side  of  the  riv^r  „.i.  '''"^*'  "^  »»  *« 

fl%  feet  abo:  z  i'^'^::^  '"'"z '° "  -™<'-^  ^-j 

-P  an  ic,  COM  C,,  whitlfr:'  ''""  ''' 
hundred  yards  above,  flows  ..hrouchTwetr  ^  '"""«  " 
with  alders,  briars,  and  rank  wnd  T    "  °''™''''<' 

down  the  rook,  d.Hvitrto  r  r^T'  H  rfll""^ 
men  have  scooped  out  tho  tnW      j  j  ^^^°®' 

a  few  iarge  Jnes,  B^L rC;  ^^^^ l' ""'  ^'' 
camp.  I  have  seen  -iv  •  u  ,  '^  '  ""^  ""=^  "^  *« 
keep'fresh  and  Z.  '"''  ^""'^'^  '^'-■'  '"^  '"  ''  '» 

This  is  a  favorite  oampin..jtTonnd     Th^      i. 
river  to  or  from  the  lumber  rLionsabo^e      T        '"'  *" 
to  stop  here  all  night  whenT         ,      '  ""'^'  "  ""  "''J"* 
falla    The  toiling  can  J  '^.""''''  *"  P''"''^^  "f  «>« 

with  the  ang  r  Id  ;rn«;"  ^''  ""'  *^''  ""■*■  "'^- 
•ook  to  it  as  I  Wen  of  LTl  If  tr'  ''^  "T''"'''  ='--. 
many  a  pleasant  day  has  L  na  JT'  '  ''"^"^^'  "■"' 
.>f  the  rod  who  have  raXT  K  ?'  '''""  '""-" 
broad  Atlantic,  to  fi  h  rl  /  f  ^  ""''  "  "''"^''  *= 
have  pleasant  memorfe,  of  tW  u    ""''"''  '^^""■"    ^ 

fail  me.    The  briX  ™I  ■""""'  ""'^^  '  P"-"'^  »^^  -<=-«' 

bright  rushing  nver  below,  and  the  hill  rising 


398 


AMERICAN    ANQLBR'S    BOOK. 


behind,  covered  with  luxurious  raspberries  and  whortleber- 
ries; the  songs  and  stories  of  the  unsophisticated  canoe-men; 
the  oozy  meadow,  with  its  alders  and  wild  shrubbery,  where 
the  robin,  the  "peabody,"  the  "chitchie-ke-witchie,"  and  whole 
choirs  of  other  warblers  rouse  the  angler  from  his  early 
morning  slumbers,  that  he  may  souse  his  face  in  the  cold 
brook,  and  prepare  for  his  day's  sport. 

The  "  Falls  Pool"  is  about  a  hundred  yards  below  the  last 
pitch  of  the  falls.  It  is  difficult  to  fish,  there  being  but  two 
casts.  One  is  from  the  lower  end  of  the  pool,  where  you  are 
compelled  to  throw  up  stream,  the  swift  current  bringing  your 
fly  back,  and  making  it  very  hard  to  keep  the  line  taut  enough 
to  strike  successfully.  The  othoi  a  few  yards  higher  up,  by 
the  side  of  the  ledge,  is  a  better  stand,  but  you  must  keep 
well  back,  for  tl.e  fish  will  see  you  unless  the  water  is  dis- 
colored.  This  is  a  perfect  mausoleum  for  flies ;  how  many 
have  been  broken  against  the  granite  cliff  that  rises  abruptly 
at  the  angler's  back,  it  would  be  hard  to  say :  unless  he  is 
proficient  in  the  left-shouldered  cast,  he  can  scarcely  come 
away  without  the  loss  of  three  or  four.  lii  this  pool  Mr.  L., 
of  New  York,  has  killed  his  dozen  Salmon  (not  counting 
Grilse)  before  breakfast;  but  those  days  have  passed  long 
since.  The  left-hand  portion  of  the  frontispiece  of  the  book 
represents  this  pool. 

The  "Camp  Pool,"  opposite  the  landing,  is  easily  fished. 
There  is  a  good  open  cast  h«re,  and  one  who  fishes  it,  fre- 
quently has  participants  in  his  sport,  for  there  is  a  fine  view 
of  the  pool  from  the  camp,  and  when  the  water  is  clear,  those 
above  can  see  all  the  runs  and  leaps  of  the  fish,  and  the 
stratagem  of  the  angler. 

"  Rock  Pool,"  two  hundred  yards  or  so  below  the  landing, 
is  the  glory  of  the  station.  The  head  of  the  pool  on  the 
right-hand  side  is  the  best  cast  at  high  water.     When  the 


England  to  fi;h  a. .  e  "Sr^r/rr^ '"™" '^°'" 
and  a  continuation  of  -Bo  ^  P„  '  ^  :  trr'  ''^'°"' 
r-the.ho.e  on  the  ri^ht-hand  bank    ;«:  •    jr"": 

^""""''^'"'"-'''^''^""^'■-v'andjit:::'*::!: 

The  "Unlucky,"  so  named  from  the  number  of  fi  b  ,K  . 
have  been  lost  here  after  hooking  them  isstTlU.    . 
of  the  same  pool-the  lower  end  of T    ul  :  ."T'''"'' 
same  side  as  Cooper's  Point     T,  •         .  "'""^  *"■"  "«' 

loft  side  when  there  is  a  freshet  on  "eri  L  p  l""'"  ""  ' 
Gilmore's  brook,  and  another  by  the  bluff  .f  "'''"'"'^ 
on  the  left  side  below  the  basfnell".r  "  ^"" 
water  being  rather  shallow  for  Sat  .^"'^-P""''-  *« 

river  is  full.  '°"'"  '"  >'"''>.  ""'es"  the 

When  the  water  is  clear,  Salmon  can  be  seen  i„  ,^      • 
qu,.e  plainly.    I  ^yo  counted  twenty  frolle  b.  ff   7" 
Bock  Pool,  and  half  that  numb-r  from  2  ■"""" 

below;  and  have  seen  the  ang  r  ^  ^is  Z'  'b"^  ^ 
very  noses  at  such  times,  without  tdrlowin;::  1  T 
d.;sposition  to  take  it.  showing  the  least 

There  is  one  thin"  atfpnrlin^. 
which  at  times  impre^^t    fg, ^r:  f"  ;"\r - 
not  a  sad  one)  of  awe     It  is  T      7       ""'""«  <"""'8'' 


400 


AMERICAN    ANQLER'S    BOOK. 


I 


shrubbery  and  stunted  timber,  they  are  not  heard  by  the 
fisher  down  in  the  deep  ravine  through  which  the  river 
flows ;  but  a  voice  of  ordinary  pitch,  a  thump  (m  the  canoe,  ur 
the  splash  of  a  Salmon  when  it  falls,  after  leaping  above  the 
water,  is  heard  a  long  distance  off,  and  the  sound  is  pro- 
longed and  reflected  from  the  almost  perpendicular  rock  that 
walls  in  the  stream  on  either  side.  Thus  you  frequently 
know  when  another  angler,  though  he  is  not  visible,  has  a 
fish  on,  and  you  may  frequently  receive  or  give  a  hint  to 
make  less  noise,  when  the  culprit  is  not  aware  of  any  lack  of 
caution  at  the  time  of  offending.  It  is  a  realization  of  the 
idea  of  audible  silence. 

This,  as  is  the  case  with  most  Salmon  rivers,  is  infested  by 
poachers.  The  Indians  spear,  and  the  whites  net  the  stream 
far  beyond  the  limits  prescribed  by  law.  A  straggling  rem  • 
nant  of  a  tribe  occupying  a  little  island  in  Bathurst  Bay, 
some  of  whom  have  skins  as  white  as  my  own,  spear  at 
night  and  sell  their  fish  at  early  daylight,  or  ne^t  evening,  to 
the  packing  establishment  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  foi 
four  or  five  cents  a  pound.  As  the  summer  advances  they 
extend  their  operations  high  up  the  river.  I  found  them  one 
night  invading  our  pools  at  the  Grand  Falls.  A  shot  from  a 
carbine,  though,  dropped  between  the  two  canoes  of  the 
poachers,  caused  them  to  leave  in  a  hurry.  One  fellow  was 
in  such  trepidation,  that  he  did  not  even  think  of  dousing  his 
torch,  but  went  paddling  down  stream,  illumining  the  bare 
clift's  with  the  glare  of  his  flambeau. 

It  is  not  well  for  one  who  visits  the  Nipissiguit  (and  it  is 
so  with  all  Salmon-rivers)  to  be  limited  as  to  time.  The 
angler  may  arrive  when  there  is  a  continuation  of  rainy 
weather,  and  have  to  wait  some  days,  perhaps  for  a  week  or 
more,  until  it  falls ;  or  he  may  get  there  when  a  long  spell  of 
dry  v,'eather  has  retarded  the  run  of  fish  from  the  bay,  and 


8ALM0N.RIVERS    op   BRITrSH    oo 

"RITISH   PROVINCES.      401 

have  to  wait  for  a  riso  in  tu^    • 

'h»  water  to  fall,  „„d  „,„j  ^^  """^  M«.  waning  for 

fi^h.  One  should  therefore  h  ve  tha  .  ""*""'  '""'"«  « 
J;lr,  and  the  greater  par.  f  AuLlbl  \°'  "^  '"™"'  "^ 
of  »port.    A  recommendation  to  .heN,  ""  "*  '^  ^""'» 

river  is,  that  there  are  no  ,1  ^'P'""*-!'  "^  a  Salmon- 

obstruct  one's  cast.    As  o^JZZ^^T  '"  '"^  """'^  '° 
or  five  Salmon  a  day  now  mav  T  """  >™'  f"" 

-metimes  the  catcfwm  Z  I  T.'^'' ^^-''-' ^P- ^ 
several  blank  days  in  succession  ""■  ^^  '""^  """^ 

o/!i'::;~teto'frth'''^^''-^''--'-»'-^ - 

Mirimiehi  are  in  close  prrxL:*^^^^  "'■"■"  «'■  •'"'"'  and 
for  such  mode  of  trJZ72  "k  """  ''■'^''  '■"-  "  fancy 
bircl,.ca„„es,  a^end  one  ilT'  ^c"  "^"^  "'  '■"'--  and 
into  another.    For  ins     cr.I^  ^i:.'":^"''.'' °^  "•  a"cl  portage 

from  the  Mirimichi  by  wa '„  !LrN*'','"^'"'"°PP'"'>^''«'' 
i^^  tributaries.  Or  from  e  S  J  ^T'^'  """"■  "^  "^ 
enough  for  steamb<„.s  ^  e  .he  ^  I ti;""  ^ '  '^  "«" 
bv  ascending  .he  Tobique,  one  oft  ,1  ''  "'  "'"'  "^-)' 
"portage  of  fo„,.  miles'to  Ni^sl  .'^''^r"'  """™« 
account,,,  Trou.  are  shoclcingl/.  b '^  f  !'  "'"''^'  f™"  all 
Zionists  who  made  .his  .ri„  ll  ^  ^""^  "^  "«»■■• 

«-  ««bi„g  on  the  ;i;:Li  ;rr '""' " »""'™  ^ 

manned  by  an  Indian  The  Ri  ,•  ,  """"P^-'"??  '^  oanoe 
'"»  St.  John  by  way  of  .he  l^Z^l^lCTf""  ''°"' 
«h,  an,i  also  from  the  Nipissi„uir  "'"""''  "'' 

Salmon.fishing  in  .his  eounrry  fes  in  Tr    »  „  • 
•n  ...expensive  amusement  unles^  *         ?""  ^"""''')  '»  °o' 

en.,  unless  one  ,s  fortunate  enough  to 


408 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


reside  near  the  rivc!ra  in  which  tliese  flsh  are  found.  The 
privilege  of  fishing  some  of  the  rivers  of  Scotland  is  let  by 
the  proprietors  at  round  sums ;  two  miles  of  a  stream  that 
will  carry  four  rods  commanding,  I  am  told,  from  fifty  to  a 
hundred  pounds  sterling.  In  this  country,  the  preparations 
for  a  trip,  travelling  expenses,  hire  of  canoe-men,  stores,  and 
difference  between  "  greenbacks"  and  gold,  or  Canadian  cur 
rency,  amount  to  "  something  considerable,"  and  a  trip  is  apt 
to  cost  the  angler  more  than  double  the  amount  set  down  by 
'  Barnwell." 

Anglers  from  "the  States"  uniformly  meet  with  kindness 
amoKgst  the  "  Blue-noses ;"  there  is  an  inbred  urbanity 
amongst  those  of  French  descent,  however  humble  their 
sphere  in  life,  which  is  always  pleasantly  remembered.  One 
of  the  moat  agreeable  days  I  ever  spent,  was  a  quiet  Sabbath 
amongst  these  primitive  people— the  families  of  my  canoe- 
men.  I  have  inserted  this  little  vignette,  fancying  that  it 
bears  some  resemblance  to  John  Chamberlain;  it  at  least 
expresses  his  fashion  of  wearing  his  hat. 


I 


CHAPTER   XV. 

HEPAIIiS,  KNOTS,  LOOPS,  AND  HKCK 


IPTS. 


II 


"  Let  indcpeadonce  be  our  boat t." 


CHAPTER    XV. 
REPAIRS,   KNOTS,   LOOPS,  AND  RECEIPIB. 
Repa,rs.-To  wax  silk,  thread,  or  twine-Tvin 

on^hir J^:™  f::-^^^^^  -"»'"-  -p '-  '.i-. 
wax  .e  s„.  „. .;,.  :r:::t::;:  ™:;^ '° 

end  of  the  dllc  between  Pour  tee"h  ,'.  U  ..  °"""="  °°' 
.engt.  pa.  .He  wa.  H^L,  :?';  1 J^*;;!;™': 
With  short  rub«i  tfipn  no  +u  "^  '  ^'  ^^st 

rubs,  then  as  the  wax  warms  hy  the  friction  wifl, 

=r:Lr:i'r""'"-- '"'S"-" 
■--c:1r.::-'*'■t*---"-. 
(-105) 


406 


AMERICAN  ANGLER'S  BOOK 


silk  is  drawn  through,  and  the  superfluous  wax  wiped  off  by 
drawing  it  between  the  thumb  and  finger. 

To  Tie  on  a  Hook. — Hold  the  hook  in  your  left  hantl 
between  the  thumb  and  forefinger,  with  the  shank  uppermost 
and  the  head  outward  or  towards  your  right,  then  take  two 
or  three  turns  around  the  bare  shank  of  the  hook  near  the 
head,  and  laying  the  gut-length  on  the  back  of  the  hook  or 
underneath,  wrap  down  closely  until  the  wrapping  covers  the 
end  of  the  gut,  which  in  a  short- shanked  hook  will  be  oppo- 
site the  point.    Figure  1,  on  the  annexed  wood-cut,  shows 


the  position  of  the  hook  thus  far.  Then  seizing  the  shank  of 
the  hook  and  reversing  it — that  is,  with  the  bend  outwards- 
lay  the  silk  along  the  shank  with  the  end  towards  the  wrist 
of  your  left  hand,  as  in  figure  2,  and  forming  a  loop  at  the 
bend  of  the  hook,  take  the  lower  part  of  the  slack,  and  con- 
tinue the  wrapping  for  three  or  four  turns  more,  and  holding 
it  securely,  though  not  too  tightly  in  its  place,  draw  the  sluck 
through  and  cut  it  off"  close,  thus  making  what  i?  by  some 
anglers  termed  the  invisible  knot. 


Hi."*- 


«* 


•UPAIBS,    KNOTS,    LOOPS      A«„ 

-.UOPS,    AHB    RECEIPTS.      40r 

L00P3.-I„  tying  on  to„^^  ^ 
plan  is  to  whip  the  hoolc  to  a      m  '^""''''""a  "■>  «eellent 
Igi'd  portion  of  figure  3     ^f      ? ,"'  *""'"  ""^  ""^  '"''• 
--.,0  figure  represents  a  loop  on  the     !,  ?''  "''"'"''  "^  "'= 
shows  how  a  hook  may  be  atl       ,  "  ^""-''^''"■■'  »"d 

off;  it  is  eonvenientt  d^.  "*  *°  '^'«'-  -  '*- 

together  oiosei;:  e'  t^«:f  "^'^ -^-^^  =  '-e  >oops  Craw 

and  present  a  neat  appeal!  ""  "''  '"  '"«  -'-■ 

.i-h::Ltot::::fir^  rr  -^  ---e,  a 

pose  of  fastening  on  or'    utToff 'a  ?'f  °'  '''  ^°'  '"^  P^ 

witl.  knots.    The  loop  ean  beXL:  tTl.ru  '"  '''''"'' 

"•'"  '"'"ly  in  the  following  manner      T  ,        '''"^'^ 

-  'or  three  quarters  of  an  iueh  17.171  '"/     ™'  °'  '"^ 

';*«ns  a  pieee  of  shoo.nak   l  Jaf,-    fZ'"''"-  ""^  *- 
raw  so  much  of  the  line  througT  the    oft  "r"="' 

.1.0  onds  of  the  gut-loop  i„  t,,el,      W  1^'  "'"  '■■"" 

-■  ""'e  knobs  on  them,  and  inlutl^';  'rttr'""' 
your  fore  teeth,  lav  it  on  t)..  ■,  ^^  between 

l.«.in..ing  at  the  e^d    o^t h     loZt  ^"^f  ""^  ""^'  "" 
"•axel  .silk  as  far  as  B  and  ftV    ' «  °    '  *^'  ""!>  ^'"'  "■«= 

-..•«i.  described  in  :;;i::;::-r'^«'"™i^<--not, 

i"i"-l  by  a  knot,  it  will  not  1    „'        ,"'™'''™  "«  »  "  '^ 
ro-l,  and  sF;ici„.  become,  r  ™°''  *"  ""g«  "f  the 

ln«  the  two  end:  fo  "«  :Z^'',  ''"^  '''  "^  ^y  '"Per. 
«".  -"  laying  them  ^X  "d  ""  ■"""'  ™-^'"«  '"^ 
»--'  3ilk.  Fastening  T^  „  'r'  ""'r;«  ^"'"  "-  -"• 
in*».oe  is  differen,  fro'm  tj        "'^"""■'''«  ^"ot  in  this 

"■">« "-  after  i^^cr:^'-'-'^''-  ^'  '^ 

»."^  '-'>  ^  loop  D,  areo;mrci,t  :  c  T'T'  """  *^ 
--„d  the  line  towards  towa;'.'\C.r;t 


■<.  f,j.«|.i4|^ 


408 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


alack  D,  continue  to  wind  (over  the  end)  from  B  towards  C. 
foi;r  turns,  and  draw  the  slack  through  and  cut  it  off. 


To  Splice  a  Kod.— Trim  off  the  fractured  ends  obliquely, 
making  a  long  bevel  on  each,  and  after  rubbing  the  surfaces 
where  the}?  are  to  come  in  contact  with  hard  shoemaker's 
wax,  wind  the  splice  from  E  to  F  with  fine  waxed  twine  or 
sadlijr's  silk,  and  fasten  off  with  the  ipvisible  knot,  as 
described  in  splicing  a  line. 

Knots.— In   the  next   cut.   No.   1   is  the   angler's   single 

knot ;  it  is  used  in  tying  a  line.     No  2  is  the  anglers  double 

knot,  the  neatest  f.nd  most  secure  in  joining  gut-lengths.    The 

ends  are  laid  together  pointing  in  opposite  directions,  and 

are   passed  through   twice;    this  knot  is  indispensable  in 

making    leaders    for   Trout,   and  casting-lines    for  Salmon 

fishing.     When    drawn   together  the   knot   is   oblong  and 

the  ends  may  be  cut  off  as  close  as  can  be  done  with  a  sharp 

knife,  without  a  possibility  of  their  drawing.    No.  3  is  a 

water-knot;   it  is  used   mostly  in  attaching  the  drop-fly  to 

a  leader  in  Trout-fishing;  the  ends  are  tightened,  and  the 

knot  drawn  together  after  the  knotted  end  of  the  gut  to 

which  the  dropper  is  tied  is  passed  through.     The  ends  of 

this  knot  should  not  be  cut  off  too  close,  for  fear  of  tlioir 

drawing  when  the  gut  becomc's  thoroughly  soaked. 


KiiPAIRS,    KNOTS,    Loo 


PS,    AND    RECEIPTS.     409 


York,  aud,  «  the  reader  wiH  see  iZ  n  "°"''""  ^''''' 

oa  .be  bait  .be  .i„„e  boo  a. Tbe  Co;  r'^'  '"  """'"^ 
.brough  tbe  lips  of  the  n,i„„o.  or  rf',  1  '"  ^'7,''  P--> 
.be  middle,  throu..b  C  ^  1, .  l  ,         '  """  "'^  ""=  P"''  "> 

,   mou^n  te  body  JUS.  below  the  back  fin.      j 

-  book3  larger  or  Li,er,rb:r::':^':sr 

aize  represemed.  '      "' '  ""^  ^"'""'^  ''=  ""»e  tbe 


r;in:x;:::;"^ 


I 


I 


a 


410 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Directions  for  Dyeing  Gut. — The  following  is  taken 
from  the  "  Fly-Fisher's  Text-Book,"  by  Chitty.  I  have  found 
his  receipt  for  dyeing  a  neutral  tint  to  produce  a  color  so 
much  to  my  liking,  that  I  have  used  it  for  twelve  years  with- 
out trying  the  compounds  for  producing  other  shades. 

"General  Directions  for  Dyeing  Out. — In  an  earthen  pipkin 
boil  about  one  pint  and  a  half  of  cold  water  with  the  dyeing 
ingredients  I  shall  mention  presently.  When  these  have 
boiled  about  ten  minutes,  take  the  pipkin  off  the  fire,  and  after 
a  minute  or  so,  immerse  the  gut,  tied,  if  at  all,  very  loosely, 
and  leave  it  in  the  still  bubbling  liquid,  so  long  only  by  the 
loatch,  as  I  direct,  and  it  is  dyed  enough ;  for  observe,  that 
these  are  all  tried  means.  On  taking  the  gut  from  the  pipkin, 
cast  it  into  a  basin  of  clean  cold  water,  and  rinse  it  well ;  wipe 
it,  and  let  it  dry  awhile :  then  take  each  length  separately 
and  holding  it  by  the  end  between  the  fore  teeth,  rub  it  with 
India-rubber,  which  not  only  cleans  and  straightens  it,  but 
also  tests  its  strength,  avoiding  the  necessity  of  doing  so 
again  when  about  to  be  called  into  use.  After  this,  clip  off 
the  bad  ends  and  tie  all  up  neatly  together,  and  keep  it,  at  full 
length,  in  a  paper  or  parchment  case,  with  an  inner  one  of  thin 
paper  rubbed  with  olive-oil,  which,  in  moderation,  preserves 
gut. 

"  Particular  Recij)es. — 'The  ingredients  are  as  follows ;  and 
first  in  my  esteem  is, 

"  No.  1. — An  azure  or  neutral  tint  (similar  to  ink-dye): — 

"  I  drachm  Logwood, 
G  grains  Copperas, 

Immersed  2}  or  3  minutes 

"  No.  2. — An  azure  tint,  more  pink  than  the  last : — 

"  1  drachm  Logwood, 
1  scruple  Alum, 

Immersed  3  minutes. 


HKPAIRS,    KNOTS,    LOOPS      a  v  t.    x> 

'    ^"OPS,   AND    RECEIPTS.       411 

"  ^°-  ^-^  ■^"'"y  "'  <''«y  olive  (a  very  good  color) :_ 
"  To  ingredients  of  No.  2,  add, 
3  scruples  Quercitron  Bark, 

Wersed2minutel,orperhaps3nainutea. 
"No.4.— AH  jht  brown:- 

"  1  drachm  Madder, 
1  scruple  Alum, 

Immersed  5,  or  perhaps  6  minutes. 
"iS-o.  6.-A  light  yellow,  or  amber  :- 

"  H  scruple  Quercitron  Bark, 
1  scruple  Alum, 
6  grains  Madder, 
4  drops  Muriate  of  Tin, 
1  scruple  Cream  of  Tartar, 

Immersed  2i  minutes." 

Dyeing  Feathers  and  Dubbing -It  i«  ^.   -vi      , 
.M^  wor.  ..,  f.,  .„.„  ,He  .anas  of^o^:  LC^:^: 
whom  the  opportunity  of  importing  dyed  haolde,  and  dul 
b.ng  .a  not  often  presented,  but  who  can  procure  t^.     Ht 
n.a.„r.als.     Wtth  a  view  of  enabling  hin.  to  b.come  h    Z 

e^    -  Art  of  F Iv  °°:      "T  °'  ''""'™-°  8"-  »  I^'-t 
ers    Art  ot  Fly-making  and  Dyeing." 

"The  best  vessel  for  dveino-  io  o  xr^j  i 

1  1  ^J«i"g  IS  a  V\  edgwood-ware  ninVin  • 

and  one  that  will  hold  a  quart  of  fluid  w^i,,  be  la^  Zulh 
for  all  ordinary  purposes.  Before,  dyeing  „i.-s  JrT  , 
'"  ™'^"i-.  each  .ust  be  .coured  o/its'g^ts^  d Thv 
.version  and  boiling  for  half  an  hour  i!  strong  4  lei 


412 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Feathers,  the  chief  ones  used  being  hackles,  must  be  also 
cleansed  by  washing  them  with  soap  in  warm  water.  The 
principal  colors  to  be  obtrtined  are  black,  brown,  blue,  red, 
and  yellow,  and  by  combining,  in  the  process  of  dyeing,  those 
colors,  all  other  hues  and  shades  can  be  procured.  The  reader 
is  requested  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  art  of  dyeing  is  a  very 
delicate  one,  requiring  minute  attention  and  no  small  expe- 
rience. The  experimental  student  must  exercise  considerable 
patience,  and  not  be  at  all  di  couraged  by  incij)ient  failures. 
They  will  dissolve  by  degrees  into  successful  results. 

"  Recipe  for  Blue. — With  soft  river- water  let  your  pipkin  be 
about  three  parts  full ;  put  it  on  a  slow,  clear  fire,  adding  a 
teaspoonful  of  'paste-blue,'  which  can  be  purchased  at  the 
color-shops.  I^eep  stirring  it,  and  when  it  is  more  than  luke- 
warm, add  a  tablespoonful  of  cold  water,  into  which  you  have 
put  twelve  drops  of  sulphuric  acid.  In  this  dyeing  fluid 
place  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  of  material  to  be  dyed,  whether 
pig's  hair,  hackles,  or  mohair,  taking  care  that  they  have 
been  previously  thoroughly  cleansed  as  already  directed,  and 
rinsed  in  hot  water,  and  then  wrung  out  just  before  you  put 
them  into  the  pipkin.  Let  the  whole  boil  slowly  for  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes.  Then  take  out  your  fur  or  feathers,  or 
whatever  material  you  are  dyeing,  and  rinse  in  pure  cold 
water.  Dry,  if  possible,  in  a  sunny  atmosphere.  For  stirring 
your  materials  in  the  pipkin  always  use  a  clean  piece  of 
woi)d. 

"  For  Bed. — Water  as  before  in  your  pipkin,  and  with  it  two 
handfuls  of  Brazil  wooc.,  and  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  of  pig's 
hair  or  feathers,  or  any  other  material  you  want  to  dye.  Boil 
the  whole  for  half  an  hour.  Take  out  your  material,  ard 
cool  the  dyeing  fluid  by  the  addition  of  a  little  cold  water. 
When  cool,  put  in  sulphuric  acid  in  manner  and  quantity  aa 
before;   next,  add  your  material   to  be   dyed,  and   gently 


J^BTAiRg^    KNOTS,    LOOPfl      4vn 

'^"OPS.    AND    RECEIPTS.      418 

simmer  the  whnlp  fr.^  „     i 

out  fur  or  fel.tet  ZZ  T  "  ''""  "'«■    ™™  '"><« 

"s  before.    If  "^  Cf!  h"      ^  "'"' """  "»«  ""'^  d-'y 

-od;  and,  in  the  .eeond  boi.^l  ^ll  """"'"^  "^  '"«■ 
of  a  pea,  and  the  size  of  „.  1,,    ?'  "°PP°™  ""=  »i^° 

lour,  i„„„erse  materill  t,  ,7  '  "'  P''"'""''-  ^-'  ™ 
before.  Take  eTreft  rer-'T'  '"'  ""^  ""^  "'^  - 
add  to  it  tbe  .uiphu*:  J:    ''""  """"  "«  "-'  "^f"-  you 

.ab.e,,oo„f„,, of t;;:;-:  p^i'v^y "'"^'^ 

™uner  and  quantity  OS  before,  o  rfrt.r  ^  ^°-  " 
out  and  ri„.e  in  cold  water,  nd  dr,  t\  "  ,  '  "° 
table.,poonful  of  Bra.il.w„„d  will  ehl^'  1       '"  "'  " 

low  to  rieh  orange.  ^^  ^°"  ''""'™«  Xol- 

wa;«,Ti;;:::ir::tr  '"  -"'cb  boi,  a  bandfu,  of 

loKwood  tbj  3i.e\f\^::, ::'  ;r;;'i:  f  -'-d.  a„d  of 

a  quarter  of  an  ounce  of  ti  "'  ^'^^'^^'^^  ^^t^ 

o'".-tbe,i,:~dd^r;i:^H'-'- j"'-^' 

-  mr,  .c.,  and  boi,  tben.  for  .anotl'r^^f.,.!::^^:        "; 

•-:.'-ya,edXr=;rc:.r;:ir"^^ 

."o;^^...nt3..,,eflnidtbantbei„.C.: 

ono.wo„:i7ir;:Lr:dr:  ;;;;:'■"";-•'••-- 

Wr^,  and  boi,  for  „a,f  an  bonr  ,  „  f  ^7':  T'  ^■■"- 
featber.  &.,  and  boi,  anotber  h„,f  ho^  T^"  ,  ""'  '"  ^°" 
your  liquor,  and  add  aeid  ;  di.,so,ve     bit  o^  ""'  "°°' 

of  a  nut,  and  .iddin»  a  l„l  ^^  of  copper.,,  the  size  ' 

Half  an  hour.    TaTe  o„t  v       T[  ""'  "''''  •'°"  "='™  '■^ 

""'•       xuKe   out  vour   fpnflipru    AiY.  1     • 

itatuers,  fur,  or  hair  occasion- 


414 


ameri::an  anqler'S  book. 


ally,  as  oxposuro  to  air  during  the  process  of  dyeing  tends  to 
promote  and  fix  the  black  color. 

"A  mixture  of  blue  and  red  dyeing  liquor  boiled  together, 
and  afterwards  cooled,  and  acid  added  to  it,  will  produce  o 
purple  color. 

"  A  mixture  of  blue  and  yellow  dyeing  liquor  will  produce, 
in  accordance  with  your  varying  and  modifying  u,  greens  of 
all  shades. 

"A  mixture  of  blue,  red,  and  yellow  liquor  produces  bright 
olives,  the  hues  of  which  may  be  sobered  by  the  introduction 
of  logwood. 

"For  Bright  Scarlet. — "Water  as  usual,  in  which  put  a  tea- 
spoonful  of  crystallized  tartar.  In  this  liquid  boil  the  mate- 
rials you  are  about  to  dyo;  take  them  out,  and  put  in  a  table- 
spoonful  of  powdered  cochineal  and  a  teaspoonful  of  '  grain- 
spirit,'  which  can  be  bought  at  the  drysalter's  When  in  a 
simmering  state,  reintroduce  your  materials — feathers  or  fur, 
&c., — and  boil  the  whole  gently  for  half  an  hour.  Wash, 
rinse,  and  dry  your  materials  as  usual. 

"  Yellow,  and  its  Varieties  for  Featliers. — The  recipe  already 
given  for  dyeing  yellow,  suits  pig's-wool,  mohair,  and  furs 
best.  The  present  recipe  is  better  for  feathers,  hackles,  ice- 
Boil  two  or  three  handfuls  of  yellow- wood  one  hour  in  n 
quart  of  soft  water ;  wash  the  feathers,  be  they  mottled  mal- 
lard or  any  sort  of  hackle  (light-colored  ones  are  the  best  to 
be  dyed  yellow),  in  soap  and  hot  water.  They  must  be  tied 
in  bunches  at  the  quill  end.  Boil  these  bunches  a  short 
time  in  a  pint  of  water,  to  which  you  have  added  a  lar<j,e 
spoonful  of  alum  and  tartar,  in  a  pipkin.  Take  them  out 
and  immerse  them  in  your  yellow  dyeing  liquor,  and  let  it 
simmer  for  an  hour  or  two,  more  or  less,  according  to  your 
desire  for  a  paler  or  deeper  yellow.  Finally,  take  out  the 
feathers,  and  rinse  them  in  hard  spring  water.     Red  hackles, 


"KPAIRS;  KNOTS.    ,00P«..,,HKCKIPTS. 


41c 


boiled  in  a  similar   licmor    will    h«. 

When  you  want  v.ll  "'   ^''"^^"  °^  "'"^er. 

;^,o ';.c  °'  ""^"'  '"^ '-"'  <">'-  --»'  "'.aa.  of 

wax  „  delicate  thread  withT.i"  "  '""''^'""° 

..'ILcros  to  the  .silk  whel  t    „ V     fl     "7™/-"-  -  '"-'' 

when  fluishi,,,.  off  ,,  , '    7°,  "  ^  "'"'  "  '»  "'>J-tio„ahle 
""  "'^  '"  I'le  liead,  where  if  olir>i,iri  i, 

wen  „»  .ecure.    Fly.,„ake,.,  the.  j; Lve  !  „.  Air     "^ 
methods  of  re„deH„«  ,h„e„,aker.  ,„;.  .e,  1'     :i 

finger,,  and  more  easily  applied  to  the  «ilk.    0„e  Mo  "dd  a 
small  portion  of  lard  or  (C]uu.r  ..     \  ^  ^ 

fessionil    flvrlr.  , '  ^^''^"^ '•^^'^)  P'>"^»tum.     Many  pro- 

ressional    fly-dressers    have  a  receipt  for  m.lincr  fi,  • 
- :  the  .a,e  of  a„,  or  that  .hieh^i;;  IT      f,  ^l":; 

-neti,„e.even  ,ut.a.per2^    l^T^rf""'  """ 
«tituent  k  naptha  or  ether,  "  '"""■■  """• 

Shipley',  book  (an  Euglish  work)  „ives  the  foil      • 
receipt  for  making  transparent  wax-  °"'"« 

o..:L?:o7:::ittoT"t"*'''^"™"°'^^-^^^^ 
wen  cissoived,  si.rtC  orT::™:^  ''7  "■"™ 

:::::tr":  tr:fn'"^■■'■■  ■' - 

oypuMing  It  vrry  much  tlirongh  tlio  finder,  till 
'-Id;  the  last  operation  giving  it  toughness  and  .h-,,     ^ 
opa.^...  Which  it  ..,nmc.,  when  properly  2:;^^^'"'' 


416 


AMERICAN    ANOLEK'8    BOOK. 


Chitty  najM  he  hns  made  this  wax  nflor  Mr.  Sliiploy's 
rocoipt,  and  findinjjr  it  too  brittle)  added  a  lialf-draclmi  inoro 
•»f  pomatum.  Ho  further  miyn,  "another  receipt  for  tlio  «utno, 
is  eight  ouneea  of  white  rosiu  and  one  tublospooiiful  of  lin- 
*eed-oil.     This  I  have  not  tried." 

Chitty  also  advises  the  fly-maker  to  dissolve  a  lump  of 
shoemaker's  (anglicCi  cohler^a)  wax  in  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
spirits  of  wine.  I  have  found  alcohol  (but  not  weaker  than 
95°)  a  solvent,  and  also  other.  This  is  a  liquid  wax,  and 
enables  one  to  wax  his  silk  by  immersing  it  in  the  solution; 
but  I  found  on  trial  that  the  alcohol  evaporates  after  a  while, 
leaving  the  silk  imperfectly  waxed 

The  best  wax  I  have  over  used  in  making  flies  was  given 
me  by  Mr.  George,  who  ties  flies  for  Philip  Wilson,  Chestnut 
Street  above  Fourth,  Philadelphia. 


Slii  ploy's 
;lim  inoro 
tlio  siuno, 
ful  of  lin- 

lump  of 
uiiitity  of 
akcr  than 
wax,  ami 

solution ; 
ir  u  wliiio, 

raa  givon 
Chestnut 


CHAPTER    XVI. 
i"'  L  \  -  M  A  K  I  J^  0 


27 


"  To  frame  the  Httle  animal,  provld* 
All  the  gay  hues  that  wait  on  female  pride; 
Let  Nature  guide  thee;  sometimes  goldeu  wire 
The  shining  bellies  of  the  fly  require; 
The  peacock's  plumes  thy  tackle  must  not  fail. 
Nor  the  dear  purchase  of  the  sable's  tail. 
Each  gaudy  bird  son'e  tender  tribute  brings, 
And  lends  the  growing  imcct  proper  winga: 
Silks  of  all  colors  must  their  aid  imparl 
And  every  fur  promoto  the  fisher's  art." 

QiT. 


CHAPTER  XVI, 

FLY-MAKING. 

bave  not  le,.„e,  o.  fl.h  bu.  .eld„.,Td„es  no    rvT 
the  trouble  and  patience  besto»red  on    eaJnTit       7 

T  ^"^  "^"^^  ^"y  *-^  «-'  than!     e  tZ     Ct  '" 
who  has  t™e,  end  i,  anxio,.  to  become  con?e™tr:,: 
hat  perta,n,t.onr  gentle  craft,  there  i.  no  in-d       ^np 
o    so  absorbm.  and  time-WHing,  .nd  one  forg  ,     ^  ; 

-=rrp^t:;rtrr'r.^" 

of  takin.^  fish  1-,  nl=»  •  ,         stream.     I  he  satisfaction 

'ii^iiio  nsn  IS  also  increased,  if  it  be  with  ih^         i 
one's  own  skill  •  «n,l  ,1,  ,  *     ^^  product  of 

own  Skill ,  and  the  angler  can  adopt  any  little  fanov  nf 

But  who  can  lucidly  explain  thi,   'n  -,    v 
I  plain,  fron.  Cotton' down  to  Ho  a„d      Ir'^'' T'"' 
Ronalds,  with  their  elaborate  illu.rat!      :  SoTr^;'   "' 
doubt  a,  to  enlightening  the  learner  that  I  ::;;:";.:;:: 

(419) 


420 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


would  rather  commend  him  to  some  frieud  who  is  an  adept, 
or  to  a  professional  fly-maker.  A  fe\v  hours  spent  with  a 
skilful  fly-dresser  is  worth  a  volume  of  w."itten  directions  and 
illustrations. 

Implements. — The  amateur  fly-tyer  of  the  present  day  has 
many  little  implements  which  assist  him  greatly :  there  is  the 
pin- vice,  which  are  fingers  to  him,  holding  the  hook  securely ; 
spring-pliers,  or,  as  some  call  them,  forceps,  to  assist  in  hack- 
ling ;  a  stout  darning-needle  to  pick  out  the  dubbing ;  a  pair 
of  sharp  scissors,  &c.,  &c.  These  can  be  kept  in  a  wallet  or 
large  pocket-book,  with  the  materials  for  making  flies.    The 


FLT-MAKINU. 


^I 


proper  shape  and  size  of  the  vice  an,)  .nri„      i- 

sented  by  the  foregoing  out.  ^P™«-P'-s  are  repre. 

M«EBUl,3._In  collecting  material,  for  flies  the  a„.l 

becomes  "seised  and  possessed"  of  many  ch^Ws  whiTf 

™y  husband  for  years  before  he  finds  L       them  Id  il 

nay  be  necessary,  occasionally,  to  overhaul  his  Ja^^  Id 

discard  those  that  are  useless,  if  he  does  not  wishlul  'l 

cannot  be  had  here,  unless  imported  to  one's  order-  but  he 
who  ha.,  a  proper  appreciation  of  his  wants,  and  keeps  h 
eyes  open,  can  collect  all  that  is  necessary,  with  ve  v  litju 
outlay  of  t,me  or  money.  He  does  not  se'e  a  bir^S 
duck  a  cock  an  old  hen,  a  turkey,  or  a  peacock,  without 
.uuabie  feathers  being  presented  to  ,,.  3.  He  wiUsee 
dubbing  everywhore:  his  wife's  mufl;  the  cat,  or  Jll^ 

ufts  of  cow's  hair  lyng  about  it,  or  the  place  wher„  t^c  e 
ba,  been  a  hog.killing,  with  the  refuse,  down,  or  f"  Jca^ 
beedlessly  by,  a  buflal„.robe,  a  bear-skin,  a  foot-ru.,  aP  suT 
gestjlM,n,.    Old  pattern-cards  of  moreen  in  the  s  or   of 
";  ''^'■'^'^^  «»d  -  "egged  for.    Silk  floss  o^  s 1 1 

r;:di„i't  ibHngT:torht  r^^"^  "•™'  -^ 

^'"""mg.pocket  of  his  book  or  wallet  of  ft^ 
niatena Is.    He  need  be  in  no  hurry  to  collect  then   ft     Z 
las  the  bump  of  acquisitiveness,  he  will  in  good  t  me  stock 
b.s,val,et  to  repletion,  ,vithout  sending  to  Delraraf";:' 
monkey's  fur,  or  .0  India  for  the  feathers  of  a  golden  phealt 
or  .0  England  for  a  starling's  wing  or  the  fur  of  a  /a  er Ta  ' 
A  wallet,  w.th  suitable  pockets  and  compartments  to  h    d 
e  necessary  .mplemeuts  and  materials,  need  not  bo  ov^ 
eight  tnches  long,  five  deep,  and  four  or  five  wide.    ThZ 


422 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


i 


should  be  one  pocket  for  dubbing ;  one  for  feathers,  which 
are  kept  most  conveniently  in  envelopes,  each  kind  separate ; 
and  another  for  floss,  wrapping-silk,  &c.  Hooks  should  be 
kept  in  different  parchment  parcels,  each  appropriately  num 
bered,  and  slipped  under  a  leather  band  stitched  at  intervals 
to  the  inside  of  the  wrapper  of  the  wallet.  Under  the  same 
band  there  should  also  be  loops  for  each  tool.  The  leather 
wrapper  should  be  part  of  the  wallet  and  wrap  around  it,  and 
should  be  tied  with  a  leather  string.  This  kind  of  wallet  or 
book  of  materials  can  be  opened  and  spread  out  on  a  table,  or 
on  the  grass,  or  on  a  rock ;  it  is  easily  kept  in  order,  and 
when  folded  up  is  compact  and  occupies  but  little  space  in 
stowing.  A  larger  one  than  the  size  just  described  is  required 
for  materials  for  Salmon-flies. 

It  may  be  asked  by  the  learner,  What  fowls  of  the  air,  or 
water,  or  of  the  barn -yard,  furnish  these  feathers?  "What  is 
a  hackle  ?  What  part  of  the  fowl  is  it  plucked  from  ?  What 
feathers  of  its  plumage  furnish  the  wings  of  the  fly  ?  Where 
do  you  buv  tinsel  and  floss,  and  so  on,  and  what  kind  of 
hooks  are  most  suitable,  and  what  sizes  of  them  do  you  use 
for  particular  flies  ?  Patience,  my  dear  boy,  if  you  are  really 
anxious  to  know  all  about  it,  or  all  I  can  think  of  just  now 
on  so  momentous  a  subject,  I  will  not  put  you  off  with  the 
hurried  rigmarole  I  have  just  given  you,  but  will  commence 
de  novo,  and  tell  you  in  a  more  orderly  way  what  you  will 
want  and  how  to  get  it.  If  we  were  in  London  or  Dublin  or 
Limerick,  we  would  step  into  a  tackle  store,  and  lay  down 
our  money,  and,  presto,  all  we  wanted,  and  more  too,  would 
appear  on  the  counter.  But  here  we  are  thrown  on  our  own 
resources,  and  must  do  the  best  we  can ;  and  the  best  we  can  is 
quite  as  well  as  we  could  do  in  any  of  the  old  cities  or  towns  I 
have  just  named,  as  far  as  tying  Trout-flies  is  concerned, 
when  we  tie  our  Salmon-flies,  we  are  to  some  extent  dependent 


PI-T-MAKING. 


428 


on  them.    I  saj  this  to  disabuse  you  of  th. 

sion  that  Mr.  John  Gay  Worses  ^^.'1^'""?" '"P"" 

may  create  in  your  mind    70?,!      V  '^^"^'^  ^'^^^  "«^- 

P-.  it  is  nLenselJ::     -^^^ 

that  wait  on  female  pride  ■"  La  „^  f  .  ^"^  ''"'» 

o.d  %.fi3W  .a,,  when  LI  .T  ^a  rj^T  ^^""^ 
fly  must  be  made  of  "three  whi,l    7  T,  "  "''■'"''' 

For,„„  ueed  not  go  to  th  t^^A""'  Tf^  ''^"^■" 
go  hunting  ^onr  own  or  your  "1711  '  "  ""'''  '""'  " 
oat  to  get  his  beard.  Onl^Z  t  f  m  "  Tm  '"  "  ""' 
you  can  procure,  without  spending  sr^eTLt  "'"'"'^ 
passing  on  your  neighbor,  and  you  will  "  \  ^^'  "  "■''" 
Trout  before  they  iind  out  that  yZ  Iv  Z\  "  ''"'  T' 
to  Mr.  Ga/s  or  Co.ton's  direetions.  orTour    ^r  5 

euher.    let  us  take  up  the  artio^;  in  fheorte      wMcT 

U00K3._The  improved  Limerick  hook  of  the  O'SK,     I 
.essy  pattern,  is  by  all  odds  the  best  for  wLl  d  flif       f 
not  so  apt  to  draw  from  a  «sh-s  mouth  without lo'S;;': 
the  old-fashioned  Limerick.    I  prefer  it  fn  fi.  ,   , 

A^eenhook.    .or  Hackles  ^f  nimltMrbr  nT 
to  „r      '      7"'  '"•"'"'  ^"^^'  "«-"-  *«  point      r" 

man  the  U  fehaughnessy.     The  rpa«nn  T  a        .  , 

/.       .        ,  „.  ''J.     iuc  reason  1  do  not  use  the  K',rnx^ 

tor  wngcd  fl,es  is,  that  this  turning  of  the  point  to  on  s  d^  has 
a  tendency  to  throw  the  fly  on  its  side,  and  prevent  t  fr„ 
—n,  true ;  for  the  wings  of  a  fl'y  shouM  se    ^^ 

oatcrpdlar,  or  the  hairy  body  of  other  larva,,  stie:;;g  oul 


4iM 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


on  all  sides,  regularly  unequal,  if  I  may  use  tbe  tervn ;  it 
matters  little  whether  it  floats  on  its  "beam  eufis,"  or  swims 
on  an"evers  keel."  The  reader  will  note  tb-  di:Terence  in 
the  shape  of  the  hooks  mentioned  above,  by  rtfiinvtg  to  the 
plate  of  hooks  on  page  61. 

Gut. — Stretcher  flies  should  ba  tied  on  fu?l  lengths  of  fine 
gut.  Droppers  should  bo  made  -m  short,  stout  piec".s,  so  that 
the  fly  will  set  well  out,  and  at  right-au^des  fiom  the  leader, 
and  not  lap  o\  t  r  it,  or  twist  around  it.  ['or  droppers  a  single 
lenit'i  of  gut  may  be  divided  into  at  least  ibree  p.'srts,  for  as 
I  hr.r\i  already  saic^,  the  piece  to  which  a  dropper  is  tied 
should  not  be  more  than  five  inches  long. 

WKA»*Jii;G  Silk. — If  the  silk  is  fine  ami  strong  it  matters 
little  about  the  color,  for  the  only  place  where  it  is  visible 
after  th*.^  fiy  is  finished,  is  at  the  fastening  off  of  the  head. 
The  best  silk  I  have  ever  seen  is  kept  by  the  English. and 
Irish  tackle-stores,  and  is  made  expressly  for  the  purpose. 
The  fine  three-cord  silk  used  for  sewing  machines,  No.  000,  is 
the  best  we  can  get  here. 

Tinsel. — Silver  and  gold  tinsel,  both  flat  and  twisted,  are 
required  to  rib  the  body,  or  tip  the  end  of  it.  For  Trout-flies 
the  flat  is  chiefly  used ;  in  Salmon-flies  all  four  of  them  will 
most  likely  be  required.  This  article  is  kept  sometimes  by 
trirnming-stores,  or  where  the  trimmings  for  military  clothing 
arc  manufactured.  The  Irish  tackle-stores  have  it  made  on 
purpose  for  tying  their  own  flies,  and  to  sell  it  to  amateur  fly- 
makers.  When  I  have  not  been  able  to  get  it  in  any  other 
wiy,  I  have  taken  the  broad  woven  strips  of  tinsel,  from 
around  pieces  of  Irish  linen,  and  drawn  or  ravelled  out  the 
particular  kind  I  wanted;  it  is  not  as  sii)t;ude,  though,  as 
that  sold  bv  the  tackle-stores. 

Dubbing  -This  is  the  material  of  wl-J-'h  the  body  of  the 
fly  is  composed.     It  may  be  mohair,  tt  sl.'s  wool,  pig's  wool, 


S'lT-MAKlNO. 


425 


or  floss  silk,  or  thpi  fm.  ^f 

p«ws,  or  for  curtains     Ti.„  i    i  cnaira  or 

«  harls  "  of  ,h  . ,  '"'  ■"  "'  ™'«  ™»  a™  the 

Ms,    of  the  peacock's  tail-feather,,  or  of  ostrich  plumel 

are  a  so  extensively  used  for  the  bodies  of  Trout  fl  ™    TT    > 
are  the  long  delicate  pl„„ele.s  that  grow  on    ae^Me  o^  tl 
n>a.n  sten.  of  the  feather.     Mohair.  sL's  woo  ."oo  t 
pigs  down  as  it  is  frequently  called)  ii.d  fl„       u      T      * 
chiefly  u«,d  for  Salmon.fliI   shouM  b  "7       '      '"'  "" 
Those  mostly  used  are  lighl^d  "1  ,1    I:;^: 
maroon;  snuffbrown  and  dark-brown •  pile l.lo         , 
color,  bright  decided  yellow,  orange,  l!t^XlZ 
blue  and  stee    or  mazarine  bine;  decided  ^ecn    Id  lea 

SoS  rf.  r  "''■"'■  P«'^  "'o''  -  »-l's  wool  for 

Irout-flies  (they  are  better  for  Salnion.flies,  seal's  wool  b  in" 
prcferab  e),  and  as  far  as  I  can,  discard  fur,  as  a  dub  g  j 
use  chiefly  the  ravellings  ,-  moreens,  flosses,  and  hurl"  o^ 
.he  peacock's  hurl,  the  copper-colored  tint  is  grca^to  b 

referred ;  threcfourths  of  the  bod' .s  of  the  Tron tflS  lak 
for  my  own  use  are  wrapped  with  it 

Mohair,  pig's  wool,  an<l  seal's  wool,  when  the  fl„      ,, 
wants  them  already  dved  ,„„.,  i,     ■  A.V-niaker 

nACKLES.— The  word  "hackle"  is   used   in   uL 

insect,  or  caterpillar,  or  other  larva,  and  with 


426 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


fly-fishers,  a  "  Hackle,"  or  a  "  Palmer,"  though  neither  has 
wings,  is  known  as  "  a  fly." 

I  mention  the  "  hacklo"  here  as  a  material ;  there  are  two 
kinds.  First,  the  hackles  of  the  domestic  fowl.  Those  of  the 
cock  are  the  long  brilliant  feathers  that  droop  gracefully  on 
each  side  of  the  tail ;  they  are  known  amongst  ornithologists 
as  the  "  tail'-coverts ;"  the  boys  call  them  "  shiners."  There 
are  hackles  also  on  the  neck  of  the  cock,  which  are  shorter 
and  also  stifler  towards  the  head.  The  neck -hackles  in  most 
cases  are  of  lighter  color  than  the  tail -coverts ;  the  latter  may 
be  dark  enough  to  make  a  good  Soldier  or  Red  Hackle,  while 
those  on  the  neck  of  the  same  cock  may  be  light,  and  have 
sufficient  yellow  tinge  in  them  for  Ginger  Hackles.  The 
same  cock  may  also  furnish  short,  stiff  hackles  from  between 
the  tail-coverts,  just  on  the  lower  part  of  its  back,  which  are 
of  a  brownish  red  tint,  and  will  make  an  excellent  Brown 
Hackle  on  a  small  hook.  Hens  furnish  hackles  only  from 
the  neck,  which  are  short  and  soft.  A  Furnace  Hackle  is  a 
commixture  of  fiery  red  and  black ;  a  "Coch  a  bondu"  has  its 
fibres  black  at  the  roots  and  red  at  the  extremities. 

When  other  feathers  than  those  of  the  domevtic  fowl  are 
used  as  hackles,  they  are  taken  indiscriminately  from  any 
part  of  the  bird's  body,  where  the  best  feathers  for  the  purpose 
can  be  found ;  such  as  the  wing-coverts,  or  rump-feathers  of 
the  pinnated  grouse  (prairie  fowl) ;  spruce  grouse  (Canadian)- 
partridge,  snipe,  woodcock,  or  wren's  tail.  Such  feathers, 
though,  are  not  as  suitable  as  those  taken  from  a  cock,  for 
the  fibres  do  not  set  out  so  stiffly,  and  when  used  for  drop- 
pers and  dapping  along  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  the 
fibres  close  against  the  body  and  give  it  an  unattractive 
appearance. 

Cock's  hackles,  in  all  their  variety,  white,  yellow,  ginger, 
red,  brown,  furnace,  coch  a  bondu,  and  black,  can  be  had  of 


"■r-MAKlNO. 


427 


your  friends  who  keep  fowls  or  in  ,. 

the  hackles  from  the  birds  ah  ^^       "^"^^  ""''  '""> 

required  for  Trout-flies  ™"'"™^*  ■"••=  »"  "■»'  "re 

Hackles  for  Salmon.flies  are  nearly  all  of  .he     .     , 
-e  generally  i„p„„,d  ^  one's  ord.r       ft,      "  ^'''' """ 
to  try  his  hand  at  dvein<,  ,h.      <•      ,  "  "''""''"'  '''"^'"^ 

"f''uhhing,heeanfi:rr!e^tf  "  "r'''"  ^  ''"™ -<» 
preceding  ehap.er.  ^    '"'  "■"  **""  <=°iors  in  the 

WrNoa-The  most  suitable  feathers  of  th.  w  , 
to  our  eountry,  for  Trout  flie  T  °'""'"°'' 

wing  feathers  (those  next  thp  t""^  !  *"''  """^  secondary 
I^-eons,  the  «ull,  blue  hTrlnprarr'r'  ""  ^'''  """  '-' 
woodcock,  partridge,  and  dLLs^  hlrr"""?"""'^' 
coverts  of  the  mallard  and  wood-duck     T,  ""'  ""«• 

feathers  of  the  red  ibis  and  fl      •  "'"'  '"*  "  few 

for  Trout-flies,  Tl  C  T^'^'  T  ""  *""  "'^  -1-«<i 
••»-.ers  are  »eldo„  „  e' Xr;/-'^;  «"'»•  and  the 
British  provinces,  or  lake-fl.er    it  I     '"•^™«  °'  *e 

flic,  the  best  feathers  of  native  bi^dTae'tir"""  "'  '"'"""• 
tlieteal,  mallard,  wood  du,.k  ,  a  wing-coverts  of 

of  .l>e  wild  and  ta:    tut^  h/r""-^'  "=«  "'"'-'■ers 
fowl-    It  may  be  as  well  tl         ,  ""'  ■""■  "'"'  ^e  pea. 

o»lv  furnishes  tharbr  L milylXt"  ''^''^''''  '""""'' 
flr-akers  admire  so  much ;  IC^^T^  '^"^^  '"»'  »" 
3rfc  of  the  duck ;  they  are  found  ust  a  t  "T  ^  ""' 
W".gs;  immediately  beneath  ,1  '"'°"'''  "^  "'^ 

gray  feathers,  which  a  e  Z'''  '^^"^  '™  »'  'I'ree 

required  for  U^^lZ  ^^  "'"  "  "■«^'  -»«  '■' 
Sa..on.flies  are'from  le  er!  rTt  ''"f^'  "''"^  ^°' 
SoKlen  phoasant,  and  tail  and  win„  j"  ^""^  ^""2  "^  ">« 
f'-,  yellow,  and  re.,  maca  ,v  are  L  1,  l?"?'^"""'- 

«  from  my  experience,  I  am  contL^a  ^Jt  ^T""""^^' 

Sslmon-fly  are  aho„f  „.       i  """ucea  that  feelers  on  a 

7       about  as  useless  as  the  long  tails  made  of  silk. 


428 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'8    BOOK. 


worm  gut,  iioli  Eu  Hsh  fly-makers  append  to  Tront-flies, 
witb  a  vague  id^.  oi  imitating  tlie  tails  of  the  ephcinendae. 
'I'he  collar,  or  rather  the  upper  part  of  the  body,  of  a  Salraou- 
fly  occAsiomvlly  has  a  few  turns  of  a  blue-jay's  feather  (taken 
from  tl.'5  butt  of  the  wing),  or  of  some  high-colored  breast- 
feather  of  a  water-fowl  or  laUvI  I'rd.  The  heads  and  tags 
of  Salmon-flies  are  made  generally  of  peacock  or  ostrioh  hurl, 
collars  of  the  breast-feathers  of  birds  of  brilliant  plumage. 

And  now,  my  incipient  fly-maker  (I  do  not  write  this  for 
the  '  old  ones')  I  have  told  you  in  a  few  minutes  what  it  has 
taken  me  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  to  learu  ;   I  have 
picked  it  up  by  mites,  "  here  a  little,  and  there  a  little,"  and  I 
do  not  know  half  as  much  as  I  would  like  to  know  and  hope 
to  know,  for  fly-makers  and  fly-fishers  are  learning  something 
of  the  art  as  long  as  thtjy  can  twirl  their  fingers  or  cast  a 
whip  of  flies.     Both  branches  of  the  science,  the  rudiments 
of  which  are  so  easy  to  learn,  run  into  the  absinise—l  was 
going  to  say  even  into  the  occuU  ;  the  subjc*  l,  like  the  i 
a  fine  fly-rod,  is  almost  infinitesimal    'i  its  tenuiiy.     I     juld 
have  given  a  great  deal  to  know  as  niucU  as  I  ha      told  you, 
when  I  was  a  beginner— a  'jjreat  dc  al  mce  than  you  will  have 
to  pay  fv.r  what  many  per     is  will  d;em  a  very  Lolish  book  - 
Let  them  alone,  "for  to  tliem  it  is  not  given"  'o  know  <  "  the 
things  that  pertain  to  the  gentle  art,  or  to  appreciatu  the 
scenes  through  which  the  ^  ursuit  of  il  leads  us;  for  "-seeing, 
they  see  not"  God's  love  and  handiwork  in  the  littL  wild 
flowers  that  grow  along  -.ru   puth ;  and  "hearing,  the ^  lien 
not"  His  voice  in  th       -n*^       the  bird  an^l  the  aiusic  <     the 
brook,  "neither  do       -y       lerstand."    I     ope  such        >ple 
will  not  bother  us  while  I  eadeavor  to  su    v  you  how  to  tie 
a  fly  with  the  help  of  these  four  simple  figures,  which  I  have 
drawn  expressly  for  the  purpose. 


i 


"■IMAKINO, 


428 


To  m  lUonLEs  AND  Palmers     t        ,      , 
»  Jrop.fi^.    I.  „i„  bo  Lie   to  II     .     ""  '''"""^  *■<" 

v.=!,  wrappi„g.silk,  hook,  floss-silk  '  .'"•^  "'''"' •'"f"™  "s: 
»i,ort  8t„«  piece  of  ;,ut  „  ^.""''  "  P'm^"  Wkle,  and  a 
let  u,  begin :_        *  ''  ""  ""=  ""'"'  ''  f"  »  dropper.    Now 


on  near  the  bend  of  tl      I    T      .  ^'""'  '"'*'  ""^  «'* 

the  last  one  about  Jr'Tl";"  '"T  "^  '™  '""^' 

'-i^'ure  2  shows  ,ha.  1°  hL    "d  a  H         ■       '"'• 
i»d>  'ing  it  four  ^  "  '"""■'  P'^^''  "^  t'ut  (after 

«'thesH:..,„n,erne.h:m::l7:r7?.°"*^'"P 
-cureIya,,fardown„.    .  whe      I  ,      'V"^  "^W^"  it  on 

■awny  yellow  silk.flo.     wbieh  should  ,       k"'^  "  '  ""'  "' 
long.  ''■°"'<'  '"'  "•>«  six  inches 


IB.- 


480 


AMERICAN    ANOLER'P    BOOK. 


1 
I 
i 
ii 


Wo  now  come  to  figure  3.  I  have  taken  a  few  turns  of  my 
wrapping-silk  up  the  shank  to  C,  and  followed  it  with  the 
floss,  increasing  the  bulk  of  the  bo<ly  somewhat  towards  the 
upper  end.  ^  have  also  fastened  the  end  of  the  floss,  and  tied 
in  the  tip  end  of  a  ginger  hackle  with  three  turns  of  my 
wrapping-silk,  the  under  part  of  the  hackle  being  uppermost, 
so  that,  in  winding  it  on,  the  back  of  it  will  lie  next  to  the 
li  )ok.  I  ought  to  have  stroked  the  fibres  of  the  hackle  back 
towards  the  root  of  the  feather ;  it  is  my  usual  custom.  If 
you  u.se  the  spring-pliers,  grasp  the  butt  end  of  the  hucklo 
between  its  jaws ;  its  chief  u.se  is  in  holding  the  hackle  in 
place,  by  its  pendent  weight,  when  you  have  occasion  to  let 
it  go,  or  in  fastening  oflF. 

Now  for  figure  4.  You  see  I  have  wound  the  hackle  on 
carefully  to  nearly  the  head  of  the  hook.  I  have  fastened  it 
with  three  turns  of  my  silk,  and  nipped  off  the  surplus  end 
of  the  hackle.  Now.  I  lay  the  wrapping-silk  DT)  on  the 
shank  of  the  hook,  and  form  the  loop  DF,  and  then  take 
three  turns  with  the  slack  F,  wrapping  over  the  end  1)1) 
towards  the  head  of  the  hook,  and,  holding  it  down  securely 
with  the  finger  and  thumb  of  my  left  hand,  I  take  hold  of 
the  end  D  which  you  see  sticking  out  to  the  left,  and  draw 
in  the  slack  FD,  and  cut  it  off.  If  the  fibres  of  the  hackle 
stick  out  irregularly,  pointing  in  different  directions  and 
looking  wild,  like  a  little  boy's  head  when  he  gets  up  in  the 
morning,  I  take  my  large  darning-needle  and  "  order  them 

aright." 

I  have  a  phial  of  varnish  not  larger  than  the  end  of  my 
finger  sitting  on  the  table ;  there  is  a  sharp  little  stick  thrust 
through  the  cork ;  I  now  pull  out  the  cork,  and  touch  the 
head  of  the  fly  with  a  drop  of  shellac  on  the  end  of  the 
stick,  and  lay  it  by  to  dry. 

You  will  no  doubt  notice  that  in  drawing  the  fourth  figure 


".T-MAKINO 


431 


wH.h  .he  ay  i.,  tie,,.     I  h„p„  ,„„  ^^/^f  =  ^-    '" 

<"r-    '"  '^"'«  "  "y  ™  »  "•">!«  length  of  „u,  f,  °.h„     L 
of  convenience  the  gut  is  coil,vl  nn  i,         •  '"'"' 

larger  than  the  loop  ™  al  t  1  "  °  T"""""""^  ""' 

.hrc.  .imc  to  hold  i,l  ;„;;'  "^  ™"  P»"«'  "'™"«''  '«  °r 

>vl.ioh  the'uninitiat'e,,  thi!:   T  i'ffle    Uo^lf  v"""":"^'"' 
o»»7,«nd  tie  a  f.d„.en  or    oT\TV^"''''''  " 

:;7-«;wri.at:;riiri'rii:: 

the  tree  and  attain  to  all  the  },i,rK,..  i         i 

*    1  t,  ,  Higher  branches— even  to  fhr^ 

m,«t  elaborate  and  gaud,  Sa,„on.fl,,  that  adorns  the  to;:!: 

Now  let  «8  beautify  our  Hackle  with  a  littlp  hi,    p  .■      , 

und  three  turns  of  it  taken  towards  bend  ^Tt  T  ^' 
tl.cn  two  or  three  turns  back  to  A.  where  t  s  .  f'  '"f 
t.,^e  turns  of  the  wrapping.sii^    Z  .l^T^Jt 

If  you  wish  to  rib  the  body  with  tinsel  or  gold  thread 
you  must  t,e  .t  in  at  A  before  you  tie  in  the  end  o^  fl„    „; 
l".ri  that  you  intend  to  make  the  body  of     Aft.r  ,1     k 
'■--;■.  «.«^  ti-sel,  or  gold,  or  silverthread       tul^o: 
.;-y^^J.r.C,and  the  «y  from  that  point  eon,,r,: 

To  make  a  Palmer  with  a  floss  silk  or  hurl  body,  you  iirst 
tie  in  the  eud  of  the  hackle  at  A  (fl.mre  2)  th.„    1       ■     f 
a.d  then  the  floss  or  hurl.    The  mi;:;?;:!  ^^ nnTs 
be  wound  on  Jirs,     For  instance,  first  wind  on  the  hurl  or 


432 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


floss  to  C  (figure  3),  then  tlie  tinsel,  and  then  the  hackle 
in  the  spaces  left  between  the  spiral  coils  of  the  tinsel; 
they  are  fastened  each  with  two  turns  of  the  silk,  and  the 
ends  cut  off  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  mentioned,  and 
then  the  head  of  the  fly  is  finished  as  before  directed. 

The  term  "  dubbing,"  is  applied  more  especially  to  mate- 
rial of  short  fibre  used  in  making  the  body  of  the  fly,  as  fur, 
or  pig's  or  seal's  wool ;  it  is  spun  sparsely  around  the  waxetl 
wrapping-silk,  and  wound  on  with  it.  In  making  a  body  of 
peacock  hurl,  three  or  four  of  the  little  plumelets  are  fastened 
in  at  the  tail,  then  twisted  with  the  wrapping-silk  and  wound 
on.  The  hurl  does  not  fray  off  if  wound  on  thus,  as  it  does 
when  it  is  wrapped  around  by  itself. 

I  have  now  described  the  manner  of  making  four  different 
kinds  of  hackles.  First,  a  plain  Hackle  without  tinsel. 
Second,  a  Hackle,  its  end  tipped  with  tinsel.  Third,  a 
Hackle,  its  body  ribbed  with  tinsel  or  gold  thread.  Fourth, 
a  Palmer,  its  body  ribbed  with  tinsel  or  gold  thread,  and  a 
hackle  wound  betvreen  the  spaces  or  coils  of  the  tinsel  or 
gold  thread,  from  tail  to  head.  A  Palmer  may  also  be  made 
without  any  tinsel,  that  is,  it  may  be  wound  with  the  hackle 
alone.  When  a  Palmer  of  this  description  is  intended  to  be 
"  buz,"  that  is,  very  bushy,  two  hackles,  are  tied  in  at  tlie 
tail  and  wound  together  to  the  head,  where  they  are  fastened 
as  before  directed. 

Before  we  go  any  further,  let  me  say  a  word  or  two  about 
selecting  your  hackles — I  mean  the  feather  of  which  you 
make  your  Hackle-fly — and  warn  you  against  a  fault,  wliicb 
professional  fly-makers,  who  are  not  practical  fly-iishers,  are 
apt  to  fall  into.  In  choosing  your  feathers,  the  length  of  the 
fibres  should  be  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  hook  or 
rather  the  length  of  its  shank.  We  frequently  see  a  Hackle 
or  a  Palmer  wound  with  a  feather,  the  fibres  of  which  arc  so 


FLY-MAKING. 


483 


!e>a  attractive.  Then  a»,i.  „  ""'"' ''M  "f  course  ,t ,.,  the 
a  aaokle,  the  .Zli  Z2  Z7  ^™^"  "^"^  ^""^  -'- 
the  bend-like  a  ahoriL  '/w  'r''/"'."*  '"'  ""'»" 
long-tail  coat.    Now  if  sf!  »  K      ?      ""  ■■■' "<'''%'>'■• 

stealing  your  peXs  LT.     ^  '^™"  ''^  '^'''^'''d  " 
o  J'our  peaches,  and  should  make  hia  n-u  r,„ 

.epre,t.entin^rh.::?-^^^^^ 

:ririrtr:tx:-f-»-^^^^ 

and  yourself  too.    He  exDec.:,  *T°"""  "^  ""^  "f"-™' 
pillar,  but  if  he  doesnoT  °        '  g°°-l-looki„g  cater. 

'     .    „  .    ,.         ^'^ """  °P™  his  mouth  very  wide  or  if  i, 
.s  at  all  ,nd,frerent,  he  goes  oif  with  a   few  1,^1!  ,1 
between  his  teeth.    You  exnect  f.„     .,     7  "'"^'''"'  '''"'es 
'^e  tug  you  feel,  that  ;: tv  T wt tt' tf ""'' 
-mentyour  line  comes  bootless  home      ";;„"'*;  ^ 

::ur:h:tu:i\;:c:ii^-'-- 

exceed  the  hook  in  th.-  '  '''  '^'^=«  ^^  ^^^ 

»u..traetivetth:Vh'  IdTeH^^^^  'l  ^  '"^  ^^ 
tries  to  seize  it.  The  fibres  of  thT  h  t^  .  '  ^^"^  "" 
they  may  reach  the  bottom  of  hook  t^'  U  '"""''  "'"^ 
"".oh,  if  at  all,  below  it.  '       "'"  ""'™'  '^■*«' 

To  HAKE  A  Fly  with  Winos— "Tl,,,.  p 
before  the  wind  "  ,„d  .1,1        ,    ™'       ^''"»  f"  "«  have  run 


484 


AMERICAN  ANGLER"?  BOOK 


observations  carefully,  and  kept  a  proper  reckoning,  by 
referring  to  our  little  chart,  you  will  find  that  your  voyage 
of  exploration  is  nearly  ended.  By  the  foregoing  you  have 
found  out  what  materials  the  ship  is  built  of,  and  how  to  put 
them  together,  and  you  ought  by  this  time  certainly  to 
"  know  the  ropes ;"  the  mere  tying  on  of  the  wings  is  nothing 
more  than  bending  the  sails.  I  have  made  the  drawing 
below  to  show  how  easily  it  is  done. 


;*i:  ; 


B.   I 


Figure  1  is  a  feather  with  a  section  large  enough  for  the 
wings  of  a  fly  for  a  No.  4  hook  clipped  from  it.  Figure  2  is 
the  section  removed.  3  is  the  section  after  once  folding  it. 
It  is  then  folded  again,  compressed  between  the  thumb  and 
forefinger  of  the  right  hand,  and  laid  on  the  back  of  tlie  li(?ok 
with  the  tips  of  the  fibres  pointing  towards  the  bend. 

^^'he  manipulation  which  precedes  the  tying  on  of  tho 
wint's,  is  the  same  as  already  described  in  making  a  Hackle, 
with  thc^e  few  exceptions  -.—First,  in  forming  the  body,  it 
should  be  eiongnted  somewhat  towards  the  head.  Scmulhj, 
the  hackle  should  be  shorter,  or  the  fibres  stripped  from  oiio 
side  of  the  stem.  For  the  legs  of  a  winged  fly,  which  the 
fibres  of  the  hackle  are  intended  to  represent,  arc  not  as 


FLY-MAKING, 


436 


numerous  as  the  lecfs  or  bristlu„r  Kn-       ^  i 

cook's  hackle  should  „oV   ""nd         "         '™-    ^''""<'-  *^ 

of  the  shank  of  .he  hook  a,!  d  T  f"  ""''"»  ■"-" 

«Wos  should  .e  passed  .W„;a:!' XX^  IJ: 

loft  at  the  head  for  smJZt       ^°"  '"""^^  *'«"''   ^ 

observe,  as  I  have  already  eCni  """'  "  '"'"'  '"" 
clipped  fro™  a  feather.  %'  '  u"  li'nl  t  '""  '  """"""" 
-tio„  tos.her,  ,  will  roproli!  ^Z  T  1  '■' 

.liffcrent  direction,,.  (See  fi„„,.„  ='  P°"«'"g  "W-q'-oly  ,„ 
»»J  "till  ng,ai„,  if  necLarv    „^  "'    """"  "  "»™"' 

botweenyo;r;h„,„:r;:,  ;;x:;:,^^«'--^^^^^^ 

or  the  hook,  so  th,a.  .he  „,.  ,  Ihe  'I^^  '^-:^ 
,is  yon  will  observe  in  flgnrcs  •■>  6  7  or  8  „f  n 
Tront.mes.    Now  take  thr^e  .„,.,  '  III  ^J,     ,  '::  .tf 
-plus  .at  the  butt  end  „f  .he  wi„,s,  and  faste    ;;,!,?: 
invisible  knot  as  already  shown. 

_    Tails  -In  flies  where  tinsel  is  not  used,  the  tail  is  fastened 
in  immediately  after  tlie  gut  .s  whipped  on      Tf  tl     K  7 

tilled  with  tinsel,  thi^^aterialis^w^^^^ 

tail  fastened  in  above  it.  ^  i  >  me 

Much  unneecsary  tronhle  is  sp..red  I,y  „„.  attempting  ,o 
'"  ™  "■''  ^™=»  ?■«>-  of  Trout  or  Sahnon  flies)  sep,arat;i' 
"  --  -;  «"  *rec...  Nor  is  a.  all  „oce.,sarv  to  IJt 
«--app,,„-s,lk  diagonally  between  .he  flbrcs  .0  separnt  lei 
■  »  ;™gs.  For  in  doubling  the  section  of  a  featW  " 
niready  shown  .he  nbro.,  will  p„i„.  ,„„„.,,„,  „,„;';'  ^^ 

nd  oven  ,f  they  do  not,  i.  rnakes  no  difference,  for  mos.  of 
.1«  ..a.ural  n,es  that  light  o„  .he  water  belong  to  tlZl^, 


486 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


whose  wings  are  held  in  an  upright  position  when  at  rest, 
and  are  folded  so  closely  together  as  to  look  like  one  wing 
rising  from  the  middle  of  the  back.  When  a  fly  of  this  order 
is  to  be  represented,  two  turns  of  your  wrapping-silk  should 
be  taken  close  up  under  the  butt  of  the  wings,  to  give  them 
an  upright  set.  The  most  accomplished  fly-maker  I  ever  met 
with  (an  amateur),  has  a  way  of  terminating  the  body  abruptly 
near  the  head,  making  a  shoulder  against  which  he  presses 
the  root  of  the  wings,  and  secures  them  firmly. 

Flies  without  tails  are  of  that  order  known  as  beetle-flies, 
as  the  Phryganidae  and  similar  families,  which  fold  their 
wings  flat  on  their  backs  when  at  rest.  Those  with  tails 
belong  to  the  Ephemeridae. 

A  winged  fly  is  sometimes  made  without  a  hackle,  if  pig's- 
wool  is  used  for  dubbing,  the  rough  coarse  fibre  of  the  dub- 
bing being  picked  out  under  the  wings,  to  represent  the  legs 
of  the  fly, 

There  are  several  different  ways  of  tying  flies;  nearly 
every  fly-maker  has  something  peculiar  in  his  method.  Some 
tie  on  the  wings  immediately  before  whipping  on  the  gut,  the 
tips  of  the  wings  pointing  forward ;  they  are  turned  back 
into  their  proper  position,  and  secured  with  three  turns  of  the 
wrapping-silk  after  the  body  is  completed  and  the  hackle 
wound  on.  Other  fly- makers  begin  at  the  head,  after  the  gut  is 
whipped  on,  and  Avork  towards  the  tail,  where  they  finish  oft'. 
The  method  which  1  have  described,  and  which  I  conceive  to 
be  the  easiest,  is  the  one  most  generally  adopted. 

I  shall  not  prolong  this  chapter,  which  I  have  already 
extended  beyond  the  limit  I  first  intended,  by  attempting  to 
describe  the  manner  of  tying  Salmon-flies,  but  assure  tbe 
reader  that  any  person  who  can  tie  Trout-flies,  will  find  no 
difficulty  in  it.  It  is  requisite  that  Salmon-flies  should  be  tied 
with  a  greater  regard  to  strength  and  durability.     Although 


fir-MAKINQ. 


437 


there  is  more  detail  and  elaboration,  they  do  not  t.„,„-,.  .1, 
same  delicate  manipulation  .hat  Tr<;„t.„L  do  '  ' 

onTtheTrii  e:r:i:'''  "r^"''™""^-  ""o-  -^°  "- 

used  ■  h„f  fl,„  „v-      .  '  ,    "Py-  *'='«  accessories  should  be 

a!de;i!,I,     /thT  u    ^'™"™"'  ™  »'=^-^^  '"  ■>  '"We, 
"field  „t  '  °'  "™^  "f  ™^  »■>*--  -  thi 

thuis" ::::?:::.  t;"  t  '°;  ™'^^^  ^» "-  - 

vice  which  I  ha"  pi    u;ed  on  I"      ^^  ''™''"  ""  "'- 
more  convenient.  '  ^''"''"8  P^S''  ^'-^  ^ 

A  few  pages  back  I  deprecated  the  use  of  hackles  with 
long  iibres  on   small   hooks-   th,.m  ).     .  , 

whinl,   ,..  «l  ,  '  '*  "''''  ""Other  vanity 

vbch  s  done  under  the  sun"  by  tackle-makers.  I  am 
ashamed  to  own  that  it  is  purely  an  Americanism.  Irishmr 
and  even  the  London  tackle-makers  with  all  their  cockn^^ 
foolery,  have  never  perpetrated  such  a  thing.  It  w.as  ori.n 
nated  by  some  New  York  angler,  without  regard  to  tru.ht 
ature,  and  the  .»ckIe-stores  there  have  perpetuated  the  hum 

I  ^v::  toT  r  '^'°™'"^^  °"  ^^^^-"""^  --  -- 

se^r     of  th  ™'  *°"-"'»8^'  P*Wlied  flies;  there  are 
several  of  then.;  one  .s  known  as  the  "Deer.fly."     N„  ,,,t 

%  daps  on  the  water  or  hovers  over  its  surface^o  deposit^ 
eggs  any  more  than  a  bumble-bee  does.  The  Dee r-fly  f 
ound  »  nature  at  all,  is  the  very  opposite  of  flies  that  Tr^ut 

.....tat  on  of  th..  .,th^r.  with  its  big  body  and  short  win.s  is 

r  B^ttf'™: "  ?"""■  ''"^"'  ™  ="  p-«  °f  p^-^- 


438 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


There  is  one  thing  more  I  want  to  tell  you  before  I  close 
this  chapter,  which  almost  unconsciously  to  me  has  assumed 
the  style  of  an  epistle  (I  hope  I  am  not  too  familiar  on  so 
short  an  acquaintance);  it  is  this:  do  not  throw  away  all  your 
first  attempts  that  appear  big-headed  or  wild  in  their  habili- 
ments, for  a  much  rougher-looking  fly  than  you  suppose  will 
kill ;  bat  if  you  are  ashamed  to  let  them  be  seen  by  the  "old 
ones,"  lay  them  in  the  back  folds  of  your  fly-book  to  give 
away  to  the  boys  on  your  fishing  excursions,  for  you  Avill  be 
very  apt  to  meet  some  dumpy,  pigeon-toed  little  fellow  on  the 
stream  or  in  the  road,  who  will  salute  you  with, 


'Pleask  Sir,  give  mk  a  Fly-hook!" 


re  I  close 
i  assumed 
iar  on  so 
y  all  your 
eir  liabili- 
apose  will 
f  the  "old 
k  to  give 
ou  will  be 
low  on  tlie 


CHAPTER   XVII. 
fi  0  D  -  M  A  K  I  N  G. 


mm\ 


"  All  things  arc  full  of  labor,  man  cannot  utter  it :  the  eye  is  not 
KiitisHed  witli  secinj?,  nor  the  ear  tilled  with  hearing.  The  tiling  that 
hath  been,  is  that  which  shall  l)e;  and  that  which  is  done,  is  that 
which  shall  be  done;  and  there  is  no  new  thing  under  the  sun." 

ECCLE8IA8TE8. 


d  --m 


CHAPTER    XVir. 

BOD -MA  KINO. 

Woods  used   in   making  rods.-WTood  and  Malacca  cane  for  fly-rods - 
Matenals  used  by  an,ateur  rod-n.akers.-To  n.ake  a  fly-rod  ott;^ 

Wrapping  sph  es  and  putting  on  rings._To  make  a  "  rent  and  glued  " 

a^d      Zri^'r^"'^^^^^^        ^"'^  ^  '-'   iHustrated  .'n     1 
plamed-Manner  of  splitting  cone  and  joining  the  pieces  of  a  n„nrf 
sectioned  tip  described  by  diagram  -Makin/mirtm  ^ 

and  are  frequently  considered  b.  person,  of  less  experienc:' 
"n>ore  „,oe  than  wise."    If  tl,e  former  have  leisure  and  a 
mechamcal  turn,  they  ean  make  rods  for  different  kinds  of 
anghns  and  whether  for  botton.  or  flyfishing,  can  adopt  any 
fancy  they  may  have  as  to  proportions  or  materials.    Thus 
ro   makmg,  like  tying  flies,  becomes  not  only  an  amusement 
but  may  be  ranked  among  the  useful  as  well  as  the  orna' 
mental  requisites  in  tne  education  of  a  complete  angler 

The  early  attempts  of  the  writer  were  in  reducing  the  joints 
of  h,,  fly.rods,  which  he  thought  over  stiff;  then  in  makin! 
an  occasional  new  joint,  or  tip,  wrapping  on  rings,  fc,  and  so 
on  to  making  ferules,  which  at  first  was  done  without  the 
help  of  a  lathe.  Having  learned  the  art  of  braring  and 
round-ng  them  over  a  mandrel  from  a  neighboring  jeC-eller, 

(441) 


442 


AMERICAN    /NOLER'8    HOOK. 


UM 


he  inado  them  smooth  and  to  fit  neatly  by  the  imp1o  use  of 
flat  files,  emery  powder,  and  a  burnisher.  A  love  oi  inker- 
ing,"  however,  and  the  kind  approval  of  friends  as  t  >  sonio 
fancied  or  real  excellence  in  the  rods  he  mauo  for  them 
induced  an  investment  in  a  lathe,  work-bench,  tools,  &c.,  and 
many  pleasant  hours  have  since  been  given  to  making  rod.-, 
from  the  withy  little  switch  of  a  fly-rod,  for  Trout- 'shing,  to 
the  "heavy  artillery"  used  in  trolling,  Bass-fishing,  end  (-vou 
in  taking  the  lordly  Salmon. 

Woods  used  in  Rod-making. — It  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  there  is  much  difterence  in  the  strength  and  ela^icit  of 
woods  of  the  same  kind.  A  tree  of  slow  growth  is  i 
harder  and  closer  grained  than  one  whoso  growth  has  beou 
rapid.  The  white  part,  which  is  called  the  "sap,"  in  contra- 
distinction to  the  heart,  as  a  general  thing  is  preferable  if  ii. 
too  near  the  bark.  There  are  several  kinds  of  hickory  and 
ash,  th-  ?,,'/; /<e, coarse-grained  of  the  latter,  possessing  a  third 
or  a  1=.>H  tviore  strength  and  spring  than  the  red  ash. 

Amevicau  hickory  is  used  almost  exclusively  by  English 
rod-makers  for  second  and  third  joints;  it  has  the  recom- 
mendation of  strength,  and  if  well  seasoned  is  elastic,  though 
inferior  in  either  respect  to  ironwood,*  which  appears  to  be 
scarcely  known,  or  certainly  not  appreciated  by  rod-makers 
in  this  country  or  in  England.  This  wood  is  f6und  in  tlic 
mountainous  districts  of  North  America,  from  Canada  to 
Virginia  and  perhaps  even  further  south.  It  gr(  ws  gcnor- 
rally  in  damp  places,  and  is  known  under  other  local  names, 
as  "hornbeam,"  "leverwood,"  and  "barwood."     It  is  almost 


*  There  are  two  different  trees  known  as  ironwood ;  that  referred  to  liere 
is  Ostnja  Virgiiiica  (Willd.).  It  has  a  smooth  cylindrical  trunk  with  a 
tiiin  grayish  bark,  and  is  of  slow  growth  ;  a  tree  of  five  or  six  inches  wliou 
8ii-,vcd  in  two,  showing  forty  or  fifty  concentric  circles,  indicating  that  it 
is  just  so  many  years  old. 


ROD. MAKING. 


443 


strong,  but  .hort  and  cri,p  i„  il  ^Z  """  »"""'^  '«  ""'  - 

For  trolling  or  bait  rods,  tlie  'utt  mnv  K=    r    , 
i^ara  wood.    If  WMow,  «„o.i  ma,„    or^Xm" d""''  ""^ 
t.mos  holly  i,  „«,  in  Kngland      Tl,  "'»  ^o;  some, 

of  ijood  white  art  or  hickory'  the  ■  ,'T  *°"'''  ''^ 

-ood  ;  and  the  tip  of  l„„cewo'«l  o,  ,„.    '    "'"  "'  """■ 

wood,  or  spliced  bamboo,  or  Eas,        ,.  '"'■7™°''  ■'»- 
"  M  ilaoca  cane."  "  '°°'''  """""n  »3 

Tr'^rrXrerr  '"«''^''  «-°^»'  '"-ded   for 

-  -"::"t:,:„r,:ietxr""'r^ 

tliinl  iouits.     The  tinfnr         p   "'^'^'^i-ylor  the  second  and 

-.-^.ori::ira:t:  :rr„t:r""^^^^ 

of  spliced  bamboo.  "^  *^  ^^"^  1^*^^"*' 

I  would  recommend  for  a  Trn„f  fl         i      ,  . 
1'-,  inmwood  for  the  mT Idle  ^/^^^^^^^^  '''  '^  ^^« 

and  glued,  for  the  tip:     The  latrr  m       '  f  "'"''  '^"' 

f^fi      1,     .••  ^"*®^  "^'^^'-■J'lal  IS  much  sunerior 

to  the  short-jointed  bamboo  used  bv  nrofp.dn    i      /    P'"°' 
both  in  strength  and  ehsticit.   1     ^""^'''''''''^  rod-makers, 
o   i  ana  elasticity,  having  a  steel-like  si)rin<> 
wh.cl,  the  bamboo  doe,  not  p„..ess,  beside,  being  ZZ 
h^veen  he  jomts,  and  eonseqn,  My  requiring  fewer  s  SI 
llK.ba„d,oo  .  seldom  more    aan  ten  .Ihes,  while  lie 
..s  f-q-ntly  s.xtee„  or  eighteen  inches  between  the  '     .s   f 
talon  near  the  butt.  J"'ma,  « 

The  anateur  rod-maker  should  be  provided  with  a  wor,c 
hench  s,.x  or  e,ght  feet  long,  and  a  vice  on  one  side  or  aTIe 
endof..,  a  drawing-knife,  a  jack  and  a  fore  plane  at" 

:r ""' ""  f  °^^  "^o"  f-  «'™i-™="  "ill-saws  ri  s 

sa  Ipaper,  and  several  strips  of  wood  about  two  feet  lonl 
;"■  ^T"-''  f  "»-"'  --  in  them.  One  of  the  .pi  S 
of  wood  ,s  to  be  screwed  flrnd,  in  the  vice,  and  the  stS 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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^^ 


444 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


to  be  held  in  the  groove,  and  turned  with  the  left  hand,  while 
you  are  spokeshaving  or  filing  it  ^nth  your  right. 

To  MAKE  A  Fly-Rod  of  three  pieces. — After  deciding 
on  the  proportions  of  the  rod,  and  having  made  or  bought 
ferules  of  appropriate  size,  select  a  well-seasoned  piece  of  ash 
for  the  butt,  and,  with  the  drawing-knife  and  plane,  work  it 
down  to  something  like  the  desired  size ;  that  is,  sufficiently 
large  at  one  end  for  the  grasp  of  the  hand,  and  tapering  to 
S(»mething  larger  than  the  size  of  the  ferule  at  the  other  end ; 
the  sides  of  the  stick  all  the  while  being  kept  as  nearly  square 
as  possible.  Then  plane  the  corners  off,  so  that  a  section  will 
present  as  near  the  shape  of  an  octagon  as  you  can  get  it. 
Now  screw  the  strip  of  wood  with  the  largest  groove  fast  in 
your  vice,  and,  laying  the  stick  in  it,  work  it  as  nearly  round 
as  you  can  with  your  spokeshave  and  file,  bringing  it  all  the 
while  nearer  the  intended  shape  and  size.  Then  polish  it  off 
with  fine  sand-paper,  and  fit  on  the  first  ferule. 

To  make  the  second  or  middle  joint,  as  it  may  be  called, 
use  only  the  plane,  laying  the  stick  between  two  thin  strips, 
tacked  on  the  work-bench  while  planing  it  (on  account  of  its 
length  and  small  size),  keeping  it  square  and  taking  off  the 
corners,  to  bring  it  to  an  octagon.  Then  screw  into  your  vice 
a  strip  of  wood  with  a  smaller  groove  than  the  one  you  used 
for  the  butt,  and  round  the  stick  with  spokeshave  and  file,  and 
rub  it  down  with  sand-paper  as  you  did  the  butt,  and  fit  the 
larger  end  into  the  first  ferule,  and  the  smaller  into  the  second 
ferule. 

Let  me  here  say  that  there  is  some  sleight  required  in  filing 
a  long  thin  piece  of  wood.  The  file  should  be  heL  obliquely, 
and  passed  over  the  stick  as  it  is  held  and  turned  in  the 
groove  with  the  left  hand  ;  occasionally  rubbing  the  file  with 
a  straight  fore-and-aft  motion  over  the  stick,  as  if  planing  it, 
which  will  take  off  any  irregularities  left  from  the  other 
mode  of  filing. 


KOD-MAKINO. 


446 


To  KAKE  A  Tip  (^  „,;«-.,  Top"),_Take  a  piece  of  good 
M     c.  c„e.  as  long  between  the  joints  as  yl  ean  g!,  i, 
Sp  t  oft  as  many  p.eees  of  the  size  as  you  require,  and  rtduce 
each  p,eee  wth  spokeshave  and  file,  eutting  awly  the  soft 
.n-  part,  each  pieea  being  smaller  than  tl'  pre'edt    n! 
as  you  approaeh  the  small  end  of  the  tip.    In  Lm,  do w, 
the  peces  for  the  tip,  the  groove  in  the  strip  of  wood  >v,Ih 
you  sere.  „to  your  vice  should  be  very  small.    Bevd    1 ! 
eu  s  o     a,.h  piece  of  cane  sufficiently  to  let  them  m 
good  sphce,say  two  mches  and  a  half,  two  inches,  and  an 
mch  an    a  half.    Apply  the  glue  hot  to  the  surfae  s  whi  h 
come  mto  contact,  lay  them  together,  and  wrap  the  „plice 
rmly  wtth  strong  Hue  twine  or  good  packthrrad,  and  C 
.hem  by  for  twelve  hours  for  the  glue  to  set  and  dry.  ' 

I  the  sphces  are  well  gl  ued,  you  may  remove  the  wrappings 

apart  while  jou  work  it  down      Th^  flr,ni  • 

^ees,whihZ  will  presently  de:^;;:';^^^^^^^^^^ 
u.d  after  the  t.p  and  stouter  joints  of  the  rod  are  oiled  and 

After  the  tip  is  finished,  join  all  three  pieces  of  the  rod 
together,  and,  by  bending  and   handling  l,  fi„d  ,Z'^t 

4  in  doLgTo"  ""^-"""^  "  "-^  "•'"«  -"  pi-  -pa' 

anJletT  ^  ^°''7^'"'°™  *-"&  wet  the  different  pieces 
n=i  le  them  dry  when  the  fibres  of  the  wood  will  rise  and 
pre  ent  a  rough  surface;  then  rub  each  stick  smoo"h  ,rth 
-d-paper,  ana  repeat  the  operation  until  the  grain  of 
wood  wdl  remain  smooth  after  wetting.  If  ^  intend  to 
v.™sh„  without  staining,  this  proee.s°U  unnCes  ""  l'," 
Staining,  avoid  powerful  acids,  particuhrlv  in  fi  i  r 
pa-  of  the  rod.  and  try  ra.he/to^./.f'g^a;:  In^t^ 


446 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


than  merely  to  color  the  surface.  By  experimenting  witt 
red  and  black  ink,  the  extract  of  logwood,  and  water  in  differ- 
ent proportions,  many  shades  of  maroon  and  brown  can  be 
had.  Common  writing-ink  diluted  with  water  produces  a 
neutral  tin*;,  and  smoking-tobacco  steeped  in  hot  water  a  light 
tawny  yellow.  The  rod  should  not  be  too  deeply  stained, 
if  you  wish  the  grain  of  the  wood  to  show  handsomely. 
Repeated  coats  of  ink  produce  a  black. 

Oiling  and  Varnishing. — After  trying  seveml  varnishes 
that  were  warranted  to  stand  weather  and  using,  I  have  found 
them  all  to  rub  or  chip  off  so  much  in  the  course  of  a  summer, 
as  to  expose  the  wood  to  moisture,  which  seriously  impairs 
its  elasticity.  I  have  had  fly -rods  which  were  covered  with 
three  or  four  coats  of  shellac,  and  even  those  varnished  with 
copal,  become  so  limp  with  moisture  on  a  drizzly  day,  as  to 
be  almost  useless.  To  obviate  such  faults,  I  at  last  adopted 
the  following  method  as  the  best  to  make  a  rod  impervious, 
and  to  prevent  the  varnish  from  chipping  off. 

When  the  rod  has  become  perfectly  dry  after  staining  it, 
warm  each  piece  before  a  stove  or  fire  or  over  a  spirit-lamp, 
and  pouring  some  hoUed  linseed-oil  on  a  rag,  rub  it  well  into 
the  grain  of  the  wood ;  repeat  the  operation  two  or  three  days 
after,  and  lay  the  rod  by  in  some  warm  dry  place  for  the  oil 
to  penetrate  the  wood  and  become  hard  on  the  surface ;  then 
if  any  excess  of  oil  appears,  assuming  a  glossy  appearance 
and  a  sticky  f3eling,  warm  the  stick  again,  and  dissipate  it  by 
rubbing  with  a  woollen  rag  with  a  very  small  portion  of  oil 
on  it,  and  lay  the  rod  by  for  a  few  days  more. 

"When  you  apply  the  varnish  (let  it  be  shellac),  the  first 
coat  should  be  thin,  pouring  it  on  a  rag  and  rubbing  it  on 
quickly  and  lightly,  so  that  it  may  become  incorporated  some- 
what with  the  coat  of  oil,  and  in  a  few  hours  apply  another 
thin  coat  in  the  same  way.     The  next  day  give  it  a  thicker 


ROD-MAKINO. 


447 


coat  with  a  flat  camel's-hair  brush,  and  repeat  it  every  day  or 
two  for  a  week,  and  lay  the  rod  by  until  the  varnish  has 
become  hard  enough   to   be   rubbed   down  with  powdered 
pumice  or  emery.     This  is  done  by  spreading  about  a  table- 
spoonful  of  the  powder  on  a  dripping-wet  rag,  and  rubbing 
lightly,  tliereby  giving   a  perfectly  smooth   surface      The 
pu.mce  or  emery  powder  should  be  washed  off,  and  the  rod 
receive  another  rubbing  if  not  perfectly  polished.      When 
thoroughly  dry,  a   final  coat  of  very  thin  copal  should  be 
applied      Shellac   can   be   diluted   by  adding  alcohol,  and 
removed  from  the  fingers  with  the  same  solvent.    The  ferules 
should  be  permanently  stuck  on  with  hot  shellac,  after  the 
oiling  and   varnishing   is   completed.     Fl .  Uac   is   the   best 
cement  one  can  use  in  joining  metal  to  wood,  and  is  applied 
by  heating  the  end  of  a  joint  over  a  spirit-lamp,  and  sHckin. 
oil  bits  of  the  gum,  turning  the  joint  the  meanwhile  o.er  the 
blaze,  to  keep  the  shellac  flowing  around  the  wood      Now 
stick  on  the  ferule,  hold  it  over  the  flame  to  heat  it  sli-.htlv 
and  press  the  joint  in  as  far  as  necessary.     The  shellac  .ill' 
become  hard  in  a  few  minutes.     The  custom  of  fastening  on 
ferules  with  pins  impairs  the  strength  of  the  wood  just  ,^ere 
a  rod  IS  most  likely  to  break. 

Little  remains  to  be  done  nov.  but  wrapping  the  splices  of 
the  fp  and  putting  on  the  rings.    The  former  is  performed 
thus:  St,ek  a  stout  awl  into  the  edge  of  your  work-bench  or 
mto  the  top  of  a  table,  and  holding  the  tip  i„  the  right  hand, 
lay  on  the  end  of  the  silk  with  the  left;  then,  turning  the  tip 
J.tli  the  nght  and  guiding  the  silk  with  the  left  (the  tip  in 
e  mean  while  bearing  and  revolving  against  the  opposite 
Hie  of    he  awl),  wrap  elosely  over  the  end  of  the  silk  and 
the  whole  length  of  the  spliee,  and  fasten  off  with  the  invisible 


448 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


The  ring-keepers*  are  wrapped  in  the  same  way ;  biit  the 
manner  of  doing  this  can  be  better  explained  by  examiniu" 
the  way  in  which  tlie  rings  are  put  on  any  rod  from  a  tackle- 
store.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  wire  loop  through  which 
the  line  passes  at  the  end  of  the  tip.  Before  putting  on  the 
rings,  the  rod  should  be  joined  together,  getting  it  as  nearly 
straight  as  possible,  and  marking  the  places  for  the  rings.  It 
may  then  be  taken  apart,  and  the  rings  put  on  each  piece  sepa- 
rately. On  a  tip  four  feet  long,  there  should  be  about  seven 
rings,  beginning  five  or  six  inches  from  the  small  end,  and  in- 
creasing the  distance  between  them  as  you  near  the  larger  end. 
Four  rings  are  enough  for  the  middle  piece,  and  one  or  two  for 
the  butt.  Small  rings  made  of  very  light  wire  should  be 
used  for  tips,  and  instead  of  the  ordinary  clumsy  ring-keepers 
sold  at  the  tackle-stores,  it  is  better  to  cut  from  very  thin 
sheet-brass,  strips  not  more  than  the  thirty-second  part  of  an 
inch  wide,  and  of  convenient  length — say  six  or  eight  inches 
long :  these  are  more  easily  handled,  the  surplus  length  of 
the  strip  being  nipped  off  after  wrapping,  and  used  for  the 
next  ring.  To  protect  the  wrappings  of  the  splices  and  ring- 
keepers,  apply  several  coats  of  thick  shellac  varnish  with  a 
small  camel's-hair  brush. 

The  reel-bands,  for  reasons  stated  on  a  preceding  page, 
shouM  be  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  butt,  and  below  the  place 
where  it  is  grasped  by  the  hand  when  casting. 

To  MAKE  A  Rent  and  Glued,  or  Quarter-Section  Tip.— 
With  the  object  of  uniting  the  greatest  degree  of  strenu^th 
and  spring  in  the  delicate  portions  of  a  fly-rod,  and  more 
particularly  in  the  tip,,  an  artist  friend,  who  is  not  only  a  fine 
amateur  mechanic,  but  an  accomplished  fly-fisher,  some  years 


*  The  little  pieces  of  thin  brass  or  copper  that  hold  the  rings  against 
the  rod. 


ROD-MAKING. 


449 


ued'' 1 1''  Z     :'  "^f "'  ^•^'•"^^^^-  ^--  -  "rent  and 

b  whil  "  ™'''  *'^"  ^^'"P^^  *-^  -P--nted  below 

m  whxch  are  united  what  may  be  called  a ''V  tool"  and  I' 

draw-plate."    It  is  uiade  of  thin  steel  and  t.  / 

hard.  '  ^"*^  tempered  very 


\/^ 


o  o  o  O  O' 


The  notch  ir.  the  end  and  top  of  the  plate  are  true  right 
-gle.  w.th  a  eutting  or  rather  a  »=raping  edge;  the  hot 

vith  th?  f       J"^  ■*  P'""''  °'  =P'''  '»■"'  ""^'gk  the  V 
-ft  the  outer  surfaee  of  the  eane  uppermost,  the  'oft  inni' 

presents  the  appearance  of  flgnre  G  on  the  next  wood-cut 

corners  of  G  are  then  rounded  off  with  «  fil„      j  . 
make  each  glued  piece  more  truly  round  than 
generally  «le  the™,  they  are  still;     her  XHriT 
.ngte™  through  a  hole  of  appropriate  si.  in  :^,uL  21 
end  of  a  p.ece  will  present  the  appearance  of  L     H  n 
the  next  wood-cut  ^  ° 

^^  «.uonea  tip.    Take  a  piece  of  Malacca 


460 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


cane,  the  outer  and  inner  circles  above  presenting  a  section 
of  it,  split  it  in  half  at  AA,  and  from  one  of  these  halves 
split  the  four  strips  BBBB,  and  draw  each  strip  throug)i  the 
V  tool,  scraping  them  down  to  the  required  size,  the  ends 
presenting  the  shape  of  the  right  angle  under  D  or  the  little 
figure  E.  Then  join  two  of  these  pieces  lengthwise  with  hot 
glue,  wrapping  them  tightly,  and  then  the  other  two  pieces 
in  the  same  way,  the  end  of  each  twin  piece  being  represented 
by  the  figure  F.  Straighten  them  while  pliant  with  the  glue, 
and  lay  them  by  over  night  for  the  glue  to  set  firmly.  Next 
day  unwrap  the  twine  from  around  the  twin  pieces,  and  lay- 
ing one  of  them  in  a  small  grove  in  the  strip  of  wood  screwed 
in  your  vice,  the  broad  surface  being  uppermost,  with  your 
coarse  file  make  it  perfectly  level.  Then  treat  the  other  twin 
piece  in  the  same  way,  and,  applying  the  glue  to  the  surface 
of  each  twin  piece,  bind  them  tightly  together,  straighten  the 
quadruple  piece  thus  formed  (a  section  of  which  is  repre- 
sented by  G),  and  lay  it  aside  for  the  glue  to  dry.  Althougli 
I  have  shown  where  the  seams  are  in  the  butt  ends  or  sections 
in  the  figures  F,  G,  and  H,  there  are  no  seams  visible  when 
the  strips  are  glued  together. 

I  have  already  explained  how  the  quadruple  pieces  are 


ROD-MAIMNO. 


451 


reduced  and  rounded ;  any  number  of  them  ean  be  prepared 
-   he  same  time.    For  several  reasons,  it  is  better  that  the 
ast  ten  or  twelve  inehes  of  a  tip  for  a  Trout  fly-rod  should 
be  a  single  piece ;  that  is,  the  piece  itself  should  be  a  unit,  n<.t 
ren  and  glued  after  the  manner  just  described;  for  in  reducing 
so  delicate  a  part,  if  quadrupled,  the  four  pieces  are  apt  to  b; 
of  unequal  thickness.     Besides,  the  point  of  the  tip  is  more 
apt  to  get  wet  than  the  lower  part,  and  of  course  would  be 
more  apt  to  divide  or  split  apart  when  so  small  a  portion  of 
glue  IS  used.     A  tip  made  in  this  way  should  be  wrapped  at 
intervals  of  an  inch  along  its  whole  length;  six  or  eight  turns 
of  fine  silk  at  each  wrapping  are  sufficient;    each  separate 
wrapping  should  be  fastened  off  with  the  invisible  knot 

The  middle  piece  of  a  Trout  fly-rod  may  be  made  ^oitkont 
sphces,  by  splitting  a  piece  of  Malacca  cane  throu<.h  the 
joints,  the  whole  length  required,  avoiding  the  root^of  the 
shoot,  or  bud,  represented  in  the  drawing  of  a  piece  of  cane 
below.     There  is  only  one  bud  or  shoot  at  each  joint,  and  a. 


they  occur  alternately  on  opposite  sides,  they  can  be  easily 
avoided  m  splitting.    Tips  may  be  made  in  the  same  manner 
the  quarters  being  drawn  through  the  V  tool,  and  glued  and 
finished  as  already  described.     Tips  for  Salmon-rods  made  in 
this  way  are  unequalled. 

The  only  alleged  objection  to  rent  and  glued  tips  is,  that 
hey  require  care  in  keeping  them  from  getting  wet.  J 
have  fished  with  them  for  more  than  ten  years,  and  only  on 
one  occasion,  when  I  persisted  in  fishing  all  day  in  a  rain 
have  I  found  them  defective  in  this  particular,  and  then  onl^ 
because  the  varnish  had  worn  off.  This  vv2«  before  I  resorted 
to  oihng  my  rods,  and  when  I  did  not  have  the  wrappings  so 


452 


AMERICAN  ANQLER'S  BOOK. 


close  together.  If  joined  with  the  best  glue,  and  well  oiled 
before  applying  the  varnish,  siich  an  accident  would  seldom 
or  never  occur.  Besides,  there  is  no  necessity  for  an  angler 
getting  his  rod  wet  at  all.  A  good  tip  may  be  made  by 
gluing  two  pieces  of  cane  together  after  cutting  away  the  soft 
inner  part,  though  they  are  not  as  apt  to  bend  equally  as  a 
quarter-section  tip  does. 

Glue. — Irish  glue  has  a  reputation  with  some  persons.  T 
have  generally  used  the  white  American  article  known  aa 
"  bone  glue  ;"  but  from  some  experiments  lately  made  with 
"  Hilton's  glue  and  cement,"  which  is  said  to  be  waterproof,  I 
am  convinced  of  its  superiority  over  anything  else  for  a  rod- 
maker's  purposes. 

In  making  fly-rods  for  some  of  my  friends,  I  have  lately 
adopted  a  plan  by  which  the  same  rod  may  be  used  for  either 
light  or  heavy  fishing.  This  improvement  consists  in  having 
the  butt  in  two  pieces;  the  upper  piece  being  about  three  foet 
long,  has  a  ferule  on  the  lower  end,  into  which  the  handle — 
if  I  may  so  call  the  lower  part  of  the  butt — is  fitted.  There 
are  two  handles,  one  of  a  foot  or  fifteen  inches,  and  the  other 
two  feet  long.  In  wading  the  stream  it  is  intended  that  a  tip 
of  the  ordinary  length,  that  is,  as  long  as  the  middle  joint, 
and  the  short  handle  shall  be  used.  In  fishing  from  a  boat 
where  the  run  of  Trout  is  large,  the  rod  is  rigged  with  a 
stouter  tip,  but  nine  inches  shorter,  and  the  long  handle. 
Thus  taking  from  the  rod  at  the  small  end  or  tip,  and  adding 
as  much  at  the  butt.  If  the  rod  is  to  be  lengthened,  the 
longer  tip  and  long  butt  are  both  used. 

To  MAKE  Ferules. — The  materials  and  implements  used 
in  making  ferules  for  fishing-rods  are,  sheet-brass  or  German 
silver,  a  pair  of  shears  to  cut  it,  mandrels  to  round  the  ferules 
on,  a  knife  file,  annealed  (or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called  solder- 
ing)  wire,  a   small   smooth-faced   hammer,  a   light  wooden 


ROD. MAKING. 


46b 


ma  et,  a  pa,r  of  pliers,  a  blowpipe,  a  lu..p  of  borax,  u  strip 
of  tlun  silver  solder,  and  a  lump  of  charcoal-rnost  of  these 
articles  can  be  had  at  hardware-stores.  The  silver  solder 
may  be  found  at  the  stores  where  watchmakers'  and  jewellers' 
matenais  are  sold.  The  mandrel  is  a  cylindrical  piece  of  cast 
steel  and  should  be  the  size  that  you  want  the  inside  of  the 
ferule. 

To  take  the  width  of  a  piece  of  brass  required  for  a  ferule 
wrap  a  piece  of  stiff  paper  around  the  mandrel  so  as  to  lap' 
and  pass  a  knife  along  it  lengthwise  as  straight  as  you  .an' 
which  cuts  the  paper  the  exact  si^e.    This  is  moistened  and 
laid  on  the  sheet-brass  for  a  pattern,  and  the  brass  cut  to  the 
size  of  the  paper  with  a  pair  of  shears.     The  brass  is  then 
bent  over  the  mandrel  by  the  proper  use  of  a  wooden  mallet 
and  the  vice  and  the  edges  brought  nearly  together  (not  to 
overlap),  and  the  knife-file  passed  between  to  take  off  any 
inequality  in  the  edges,  and  to  insure  their  coming  in  contact 
the  whole  length  of  the  ferule,  when  bound  by  the  annealed 
wire.     The  vice  should  be  used  in  bringing  the  edges  in 
contact,  and  the  ferule  bound  in  the  middle  and  at  both  ends 
with  wire,  while  it  is  held  in  the  jaws  of  the  vice ;  to  do  this 
effectually  the  ends  of  the  wire  after  lapping  the  ferule  are 
twisted  with  the  pliers. 

To  make  the  flux  for  your  solder,  wet  a  piece  of  borax  and 
rub  It  on  a  piece  of  rough  slate,  grinding  off  the  surface  of 
the  borax  until  the  mixed  water  and   borax  assumes  the 
appearance  and  consistency  of  cream.    Apply  it  to  the  seam 
mside  of  the  ferule  with  a  small  camel's-hair  brush,  and  then 
cut  a  thin  strip  of  silver  solder  (the  thirty-second  part  of  an 
inch  IS  wide  enough),  and  of  the  required  length,  straighten  it 
smear  it  with  the  diluted  borax,  lay  it  on  the  seam  inside  of' 
the  ferule,  and  place  the  ferule  with  the  seam  downwards  in 
a  groove,  made  just  large  enough  in  a  piece  of  charcoal  to 


464 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


nontaiii  it.  Now  with  a  good  fljimo  of  gas,  or  a  spirit-lamp 
used  for  such  purposes,  direct  a  jet  of  flame  on  the  ferule  witli 
the  blowpipe  until  the  solder  flows  over  the  seam. 

There  is  some  knack  in  using  the  blowpipe.  Hard  puflk 
which  exhaust  the  breath  are  not  as  efficacious  in  produciu</ 
the  requisite  heat  as  a  more  gentle  but  continuous  blowing. 
Persons  accustomed  to  the  use  of  this  implement  ucquiro  a 
way  of  inhaling  through  the  nostrils  and  blowing  with  the 
mouth  at  the  same  time,  making  thereby  a  very  long  exhala- 
tion ;  it  is  done  by  distending  the  cheeks  and  working  the 
jaws  somewhat  in  imitation  of  the  blowing  of  a  blacksmith's 
bellows. 

Those  who  make  ferules  in  quantities,  of  course  braze 
them  in  a  charcoal  furnace ;  but  as  the  limited  space  of  an 
amateur's  workshop  docs  not  often  allow  of  such  an  appliance, 
it  is  well  to  learn  the  use  of  the  blowpipe,  which,  in  fact,  is 
indispensable  in  delicate  soldering.  In  using  gas  it  is  better 
to  remove  the  ordinary  burner  and  direct  the  full  stream  on 
the  ferule,  or  procure  what  is  termed  an  Argand  or  a  jewel- 
ler's burner.  The  common  gutta-percha  tube  is  convenient 
in  bringing  the  gas  to  any  convenient  place  on  a  work-bench 
or  table.  The  ferule  should  have  no  grease  on  it  to  interfere 
with  the  soldering.  It  is  well  also  before  binding  it  with  wire 
to  dip  the  brush  in  the  borax  while  it  is  thin,  and  pass  it 
between  the  edges. 

Tlie  ferule  should  be  allowed  to  cool  of  itself,  as  dipping  it 
in  water  impairs  the  toughness  of  the  brass.  When  the  wire 
bindings  are  taken  off,  the  inner  surface  should  be  scaled 
with  a  rat-tail  file,  and  any  surplus  solder  along  the  seam 
removed.  Brass  is  always  annealed  by  heating  it  to  a  red 
and  allowing  it  to  cool  gradually,  and  of  course  the  ferule  is 
soft  and  not  fit,  for  use  unless  it  is  hardened.  This  is  done 
by  hammering  lightly,  as  it  is  rounded  and  stretched  over  the 


,  .gft^Jipft.^-  <^  ■ 


ROD. MAKING. 


406 


he  end,  .„  „„able  you  t„  o„ier  i,  i„  .ho  end  „f  .h,.  r..me    t„ 
.tra.n,„,  ,h,  f„„,^   „„,  .^  ^_^  go   .uhom 

roqu.red  thickness,  with  an  ordinary  ,.Z    l-^       '^ 
finished  with  a  fine  flnt  flu      j  '  '"">''"' 

degrees  of  fineness    f  yon      rnV""?  '""'"  "'  ''*^'^'" 

-ugh , ,  „  iawiouCir  TLr-  ir  s 

t-n  in  it,  and  Lfterll  °  '"*  ""^'  '="»«'' '» 

,  ana  anerwards  gave  a  smoother  finish  to  it  K, 

™pp.ng  a  piece  of  emery  paper  on  the  same  ll    Ue 

.o~?He.rassL::argas;rs:!rorr^^^^ 

A   male  ferule  is   madfl  in   ti,^ 

maae  m  the    same    manner   as  just 


466 


AMERICAN    ANGLBR'S    BOOK. 


described,  and  of  course  on  a  smaller  mandrel^  or  on  the 
same  mandrel  turned  smaller  for  two  inches  or  so  at  one  encl. 
As  there  is  no  strain  on  a  male  ferule  it  is  not  necessary  to 
harden  it. 

A  professional  rod-maker  would  no  doubt  be  somewhat 
amused  at  these  directions,  and  consider  this  a  roundabout 
way  of  making  a  rod ;  but  as  I  before  said,  I  only  wish  to 
throw  out  a  few  hints  for  the  benefit  of  anglers  who  wish  to 
amuse  themselves  in-doors,  or  instruct  those  who  seldom  have 
the  opportunity  of  purchasing  rods  of  tackle-stores. 

For  fear  I  may  leave  the  reader  in  some  doubt  as  to  the 
material  I  have  recommended  for  quarter-sectioned  tips,  on  a 
preceding  page,  I  would  here  say,  that  by  "  Malacca  cane,"  I 
refer  to  those  long  East  India  tishing-rods,  which  are  marked 
with  irregular  tracings;  charred  with  a  hot  iron  or  some 
strong  acid.  They  are  easily  distinguished  from  our  native 
cane-rods,  or  the  ba  nboo  used  by  professional  rod-makers. 


„*.    •• 


CHAPTER   XVIir. 
FISH-BREEDING. 


. ..^.  li^*"*""—™*"*-*-*--*^ .*-*•, ,,., 


"  AKoOod  said,  let  the  wnters  bring  forth  abji  Imitly,  the  niovini 
creature  that  hath  life." 


■  -V  ^»  • —  ■ 


CHAPTER  XVIU. 
nSH-BREEDlNG. 

Have  ..i.„C    h?:     ll"t""^'"'''^™'^>■-''<' 
the  means  now  hannil.  .  l     .if  P'""'  P™?"""^  "nd 

-hooked  a.  :::^i;  :/;;:^;rr^.''^*™*  -'='"' 

and  Trout.    The  form!  br  '"""' "^  S-^-""" 

H^  da.3  without  Zd^/oTr  T"''  "'  '''"""^ 
.lo«-the  latter  b/sniriu/t  .        "  .       '"""«^  "^  ""^ 
catching  them  in  Jin^   J    ,        ""  "'"'"  "P^^i-S-beds, 
pond.    On  Trlutir  "f  *""'  '"'  '^^'"^  "^  -"l" 
-k.    ThecoX"       n  r  ^""  °"'^'  "«»--  »' 

'»„      with  slabs  aaa  .«w.dnst;  the  factory  with 

(■139) 


*'»»  i"li|iii  — ilWWilipimii 


460 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


ita  dyeatuflf ;  and  the  tannery  fouling  the  clear  stream,  covering 
the  bottom  of  ihe  pools  and  the  spawn-beds  with  its  leached 
bark,  and  killing  the  fish  by  hundreds  with  the  noxious  dis- 
charge of  its  lime-vat.  Any  law  against  such  vandalism  in 
the  United  States  is  seldom  or  but  feebly  enforced. 

We  arc  also  disgusted  occasionally  by  hearing  persons, 
who  pretend  to  be  sportsmen,  boast  of  the  number  of  Trout 
they  have  taken  by  unfair  means.  1  was  once  present  when 
a  person  of  this  kind,  who  had  just  returned  from  an  excur- 
sion to  the  head  waters  of  the  Croton  for  woodcock,  told 
how  he  had  snared  a  hundred  Trout,  each  a  foot  long,  on  their 
spawning-bed.  To  use  his  own  vernacular,  he  would  have 
"  punched  a  fellow's  head,"  who  would  trap  a  partridge  or 
kill  her  on  her  nest.  Which  of  the  two  is  the  more  dastardly 
act  ?  When  fishing  Jessup  Eiver  in  Hamilton  County,  New 
York,  some  years  ago,  the  guide  pointed  out  a  place  at  the 
mouth  of  a  little  brook,  where  a  snob  deer-hunter  from  Troy, 
the  September  previous,  with  a  bass-rod  and  a  red  hackle, 
lifted  out  sixty  pounds  of  Trout,  which  had  collected  there  to 
spawn.  If  time-serving  legislators  have  not  the  independence 
to  pass  laws  for  a  more  thorough  protection  of  Trout,  or  officials 
do  not  enforce  those  that  are  passed,  the  fly-fisher  at  no 
distant  day  will  have  to  go  hundreds  of  miles  farther  than 
he  does  now,  to  ind  them.  But  unless  I  should  appear  to  be 
travelling  out  of  my  way  in  condemnation  of  such  means  and 
such  persons  as  I  have  alluded  to,  I  will  proceed  with  my 
observations  on  fish-breeding ;  giving  first  a  few  suggestive 
remarks  on  fish-ponds,  the  manner  of  stocking  them,  and  of 
producing  the  young  fish  in  the  natural  way;  and  then 
describe  at  length  the  mode  which  has  been  adopted,  within 
a  few  years  past,  of  hatching  the  eggs  and  rearing  the  young 
fish  to  a  certain  age  by  artificial  means. 

In  many  parts  of  Europe,  and  in  China,  where  fresh  sea- 


PISH-BREBDiNtf. 


461 


fish  are  not  to  be  had,  fish-ponds  are  common,  and  fish  culture 
IS  almost  a  matter  of  as  much  concern  as  agriculture.    Great 
care  IS  even  bestowed  on  breeding  and  rearing  the  coarser 
■ands,  including  those  that  belong  to  the  Carp  family.    Such 
tish  are  considered  almost  worthless  here,  where  there  are  so 
many  firm-fleshed,  well-flavored  species  of  the  Perch  family 
and  our  sluggish  waters,  where  Trout  would  not  thrive,  could' 
be  as  easily  stocked  with  these,  and  with  the  ugly  though 
excellent  Catfish,  as  with  the  soft  insipid  Cyprinoids 

Whatever  be  the  condition  of  the  water  one  may  con. 
trol,  sluggish  or  rapid,  shaded  or  exposed;  whether  a  brook 
or  a  pond  of  an  acre  or  two,.fed  even  by  a  diminutive  stream' 
he  may  breed  fish  whose  natural  habitat  is  such  water  or 
make  them  in  a  great  degree  capable  of  living  and  thriving 
in  their  circumscribed  home. 

From  my  boyhood  I  have  known  ponds  stocked  with  large 
fish  which  were  not  native  to  such  waters.     One  instance  was 
the  transfer  of  what  was  called  the  "James  River  Chub'- 
the  magnificent  fresh-water  Bass,   Grystes  mlmoides.    Th^'y 
were  taken  from  the  James  River  and  placed  in  mill-ponds 
fed  by  small  brooks  a  hundred  miles  north  of  Richmond  and 
m  a  lew  years  by  natural  propagation  and  increase  became 
aumerous,  many  of  them  attaining  a  weight  of  five  pounds 
The  White  Perch,  Lahrax  palUdus,  is  prolific  in  ponds  and 
canals.     It  is  even  said  the  Rockfish  will  live  entirely  in 
fresh  water,  though  I  doubt  whether  it  will  grow  to  a  large 
size  If  debarred  from  returning  to  salt  water  in  winter     The 
Shad,  which  Mr.  Pell  produced  by  artificial  propagation,  must 
certainly  have  degenerated  if  confined  to  his  ponds,  and,  I 
think,  would   most  likely  .ease  to  reproduce  after  several 
generations ;  for  they  are  anadromous  fish,  and  their  annual 
visit  to  the  sea  is  requisite  to  their  perfection. 
I  have  seen  Trout  breed  and  grow  rapidly  in  a  pond  cover- 


462 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


ing  not  more  than  an  eighth  of  au  acre,  near  Philadelphia.  Tt 
was  in  a  little  dell  shaded  by  oaks,  maples,  and  wild  poplars. 
Several  springs  bubbled  out  at  the  head  of  the  ravine,  and  a 
small  breastwork  of  stone  and  sod,  thirty  yards  below,  dammed 
the  water,  which  flowed  over  the  sluice,  iu  a  stream  which  could 
have  been  discharged  through  a  two-inch  auger-hole.  The 
Trout,  thirty  in  number,  and  varying  in  size  from  six  to  ten 
inches,  were  brought  from  Chester  County  and  placed  in  the 
pond  in  the  month  of  February.  The  following  autumn  they 
spawned,  and  in  the  month  of  April  they  were  caught  in  a 
fine  net,  in  the  little  pool  beneath  the  overflow  of  the  dam, 
and  in  the  rill  in  the  meadow  below,  two  inches  long.  The 
next  season  they  were  also  found  in  the  brook  into  which  the 
rill  flowed,  and  in  a  mill-pond  below,  where  they  had  grown 
to  seven  inches.  At  the  time  of  stocking  his  pond  the  owner 
did  not  ascertain  how  many  of  each  sex  he  put  in.  It  is  a 
matter  of  conjecture  how  many  of  them  spawned,  or  how 
much  of  the  spawn  was  consumed  by  the  fish ;  how  much  of 
it  came  to  maturity,  or  how  many  of  the  young  fish  were 
devoured  after  being  hatched  out.  It  is  highly  probable  that 
but  few  of  those  which  remained  in  the  pond  escaped  the 
voracity  of  the  adults;  and  those  that  went  over  the  dam 
through  the  sluice  (which  was  not  more  than  nine  inches 
wide,  and  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  depth),  must  have  made 
their  escape  from  instinctive  fear  of  the  larger  fish.  Some  of 
the  fish  which  were  very  small  when  placed  in  the  pond,  in  two 
or  three  summers  grew  to  the  length  of  fourteen  inches,  and 
were  very  stout,  weighing  perhaps  a  pound  and  a  quarter; 
they  were  fed  occasionally  with  chopped  raw  meat,  worms, 
and  grasshoppers.  In  a  few  years  the  place  fell  into  other 
hands,  and  the  fish  were  caught  out  of  the  pond  by  poachers, 
or  persons  of  less  appreciation  than  the  proprietor  who 
stocked  ii. 


PI8H-BRBBDINQ. 


468 


I  have  given  these  few  facta  to  show  that  a  pond  is  easily 
stocked  with  Trout,  and  the  streams  below  as  a  matter  of 
course  With  a  little  care,  and  providing  ponds  below  (as 
would  have  been  the  case  had  the  original  owner  just  alluded 
to  remained  in  possession),  the  number  and  size  might  have 
been  increased  to  the  utmost  capacity  of  the  water. 

If  fish  are  thus  easily  bred  and  reared  with  so  little  atten- 
tion, by  natural  propagation,  the  ova  being  unprotected  on 
the  spawning-beds,  and  the  young  subjected  to  the  ravages 
ot  the  large  fish,  how  must  it  be  when  all  causes  which  would 
prevent  the  hatching  of  impregnated  spawn  are  removed 
aud  the  young,  by  a  proper  arrangement,  kept  fron.  being 
devoured  ?  ° 

In  stocking  ponds,  an  observing  person  will  remember  to 
put  in  such  fish  as  the  water  is  suitable  or  natural  to 

A  pond  for  Trout  should  have  as  great  a  proportion  of  spring 
or  cool  brook  water  as  is  possible,  though  it  is  not  essential  in 
all  cases  that  the  supply  should  be  large.   If  the  stream  which 
supplies  It  enters  in  a  rough  little  cascade,  it  is  better,  as  the 
water  is  thereby  mixed  with  air.     If  there  be  several  ponds 
on  the  same  brook,  they  should  bo  supplied  in  the  same  man- 
ner If  the  fall  in  the  stream  is  sufilcient.     Each  should  have 
a  shallow  shelving  margin,  as  well  as  a  deep  side  ;  plenty  of 
shade,  trees,  and  shrubbery,  to  encourage  the  presence  of 
flies  and  insects;  also  aquatic  plants,  rock,  stones,  and  peb- 
bles through  the  pond  and  on  the  margin.    Shallow  water 
strewed  with  pebbles  is  considered  as  necessary  as  aerated 
water  in  the  natural  propagation  of  Trout,  though  few  of 
these  conditions  were  found  in  the  pond  just  described,  for  it 
was  almost  of  uniform  depth,  and  the  back-water  covered  the 
springs  that  supplied  it. 

In  breeding  the   different   species  of  the   Perch   family 
aerated  water,  or  even  that  of  a  low  temperature,  is  not  so 


464 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK, 


necessary,  if  there  is  a  reasonable  quantity  of  aquatic  vege- 
tation in  it.  The  mere  damming  of  a  stream,  and  increasing 
the  body  of  water,  promotes  a  larger  growth  of  those  fish 
which  are  native  to  the  brook.  In  the  instance  first  men. 
tioned,  of  stocking  ponds  with  the  large  fresh-water  Bass,  a 
freshet  swept  the  dam  away,  when  the  fish  escaped  and  sought 
the  larger  water  of  the  rivers  below,  none,  even  of  the 
small  ones  remaining  to  reproduce  when  the  dam  was 
renewed. 

Trout  taken  from  a  small  brook  where  they  never  grow  to 
a  length  exceeding  eight  inches,  have  been  known  to  attain 
a  weight  of  three  or  four  pounds  when  transferred  to  a  large 
pond  or  lake. 

"Ephemera,"  in  his  "Book  of  the  Salmon,"  objects  with 
much  reason  to  the  term  "  artificial  propagation ;"  for  after  all, 
the  expression  of  the  spawn  by  manipulation,  and  protection  of 
the  young  fry,  are  only  accessories,  and  nature  is  only  directed, 
followed,  or  assisted,  as  the  judgment  of  the  fish-breeder  may 
dictate. 

Artificial  Fish-Brebding. — With  the  object  of  showing 
how  easily  fish  can  be  produced  by  artificial  culture,  I  have 
obtained  from  Mr.  W.  H.  Fry,  the  editor,  and  Messrs.  Apple- 
ton  &  Co.,  publishers,  of  New  York,  their  consent  to  make 
extracts  and  copy  some  of  the  explanatory  cuts  from  a 
work  to  which  I  have  already  alluded,  called  "  A  Complete 
Treatise  on  Artificial  Fish-breeding."  In  treating  this  subject, 
therefore,  it  will  be  necessary  to  repeat,  in  substance  or  verba- 
tim, much  of  the  matter  of  a  preceding  chapter.  Before  read- 
ing Mr.  Fry's  book,  I  had  met  with  several  brief  articles  on 
the  subject,  one  of  which  I  clipped  from  a  daily  paper;  it 
reads  as  follows : — 

"  Pisciculture  in  New  York. — At  a  meeting  of  the  Farmers' 


»J8H.BBEBI)IN0. 


466 


Club  of  New  York,  held  recently,  the  f„no>vi,.g  pr„eeeclin«, 
took  place,  „,  ,„  ,„„„  f,„„  .,^  ,ri„e,  „f  t,.«  '^ .  ""■""" 

(Dreeding  fish),  which  was  the  suhiVnt  f..   v         ■       , 
club  for  the  day.     Mr  Adarl!  "'"'''""  ^^  *^^ 

of  breedin.fi  if  P'"'"'  ^'  ^^^^^^  the  mode 

brought  in  boxes     ™     .^™'"  ""''  Salmon.     They  are 

a  ^derate  teTp era.!  e  ^JIT  ""  "^^  "■""'  ''  '^^P'  »' 
tance  A.  ,),.  ,i  I  ^  transported  an  immense  dis- 
tance  A.  the  college  the  eggs  are  placed  in  oblon:.  earthen 
roughs,  ,„  ,,„g„  ,,y,,_  „p„„  ^^  o  o  .a„h 

the  water  may  circulate  freely  around  them  ■  forT 
men.  of  running  water,  these  . roughs  ar™     ,'  "™"^"    ' 
mids,  and  a  small  stream  „f      .     ■  «"anged  m  pyra. 

.l,.J     mu  *"'""■ '»  ™ntina,-illy  flowin.r  i„t„ 

kem.    The  eggs,  after  forty  days,  are  hatched,  and  .1   ^  1 
fish  are  seen  runnino-  ahnnt  i„  „  joung 

in  another  part  of7t°the  '  """^  °^  ""^  "•""»'''  "'»'= 

bation     Th  ,  "'''  ""■'  ""  "  ''"*"-™'  ^'"80  »f  inou. 

HreaJtrzr-'^^---"^--^ 

"  The  operation,  it  is  believed  wiJl  h«  i,;  ui 
"Mr  E  L  Pp]]     f  T5  ,/  ^'^^^^  successful. 

^r.  K.  L.  Pell,  of  Polham,  discussed  the  sub.Vot  rf  P-    • 

:  r  ratT  h7:i ''"™« -*-  ™~o' — 
^-^r^iitirririrar^^^^^^^^^ 

-ive fish, «„»„„* / :«tl;r "  "r="" "-' 


466 


AMERICAN    ANULBR'S    BOOK. 


wise  the  spawn  of  the  famous  Turbot  and  Solo ;  and  is  about 
to  apply  to  the  legislature  for  a  law  to  make  it  incumbent 
upon  all  persons  in  the  state  who  gain  a  livelihood  by  the 
capture  of  fish,  to  plant  impregnated  spawn  upon  their  fish- 
ing-grounds. 

"  Remarks  on  the  same  subject  were  made  by  other  mem- 
bers of  the  club,  all  of  whom  were  sanguine  of  its  success, 
and  confident  that  it  would  be  of  service  to  the  community." 

I  have  since  read  other  articles  showing  the  feasibility  of 
producing  and  breeding  fish  artificially,  and  have  heard  of 
experimenters  being  entirely  successful  in  it.  Amongst  the 
latter  are  some  enterprising  fish-breeders  of  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, one  of  whom  has  visited  France  for  the  pur[)ose  of 
witnessing  the  modus  operandi  and  obtaining  information  on 
the  subject.  There  are  also  several  instances  of  complete 
success  said  to  have  occurred  on  Long  Island  and  in  Ohio. 

Although,  in  the  following  pages,  I  quote  chiefly  from 
M.  Coste's  directions,  found  in  Mr.  Fry's  book,  Mes.srs.  Gohin 
and  Remy,  fishermen  of  the  Commune  of  Bresse,  of  the 
department  of  Vosges,  were  the  discoverers,  and  the  first  who 
turned  their  attention,  in  a  practical  way,  to  the  production 
of  fish  by  artificial  propagation.  These  two  humble  French- 
men afterwards  brought  the  subject  to  the  notice  of  scientific 
men,  who  procured  for  it  the  patronage  of  the  French  govern- 
ment; and  notwithstanding  M.  Coste  claims  for  Jacobi,  a 
German,  the  discovery  of  fecundating  the  ova  by  artificial 
means,  as  early  as  1758,  it  appears  that  Gehin  and  Remy  were 
not  aware  of  any  previ  5us  experiments  having  been  made. 
Acc(n*ding  to  M.  Coste's  account,  Jacobi,  like  these  two  fish- 
ermen, founded  his  theory  on  a  simple  fact  which  he  disco 
vered  by  careful  observation ;  it  is  that  the  spawn  of  the 
female  is  not  impregnated  by  the  seminal  fluid  of  the  male 
until  after  it  is  ejected.      M.  Coste  further  says  ihat  this 


PISH-B  RBBDI  NO. 


467 


Cuun  ae  Gold»lem,  Grand  Chancellor  of  IIU  Palatinate  m.h. 
n«  for  the  Dnchie,  of  Burge,  and  Jnlier,  in  an  e„,,a/,n 

aslated  ,„t„  Lafn  for  M.  d„  Fouroray.  It  appear,  .trango 
that  .o  .mportant  a  discovery  should  not  have  been  made 
pubhc,  and  followed  up  at  the  time  by  establishing  J. 
breeding  as  a  trade  or  science. 

It  «  natural  to  suppose  that  Gehin  and  Remy's  discovery 
would  soon  become  generally  known  to  thase  who  were  into 
rested  m  restocking  impoverished  ami  exhausted  waters.  So 
we  find  Messrs.  Young,  Shaw,  and  other  British  naturalists 
not  only  ,n  possession  of  this  knowledge,  but  successfully 
experimenting  on  it.  ^ 

The  following  extracts  and  wo«l.cut8  from  Mr.  Fry's  work 
I  ™  satisfled  will  convince  any  intelligent  reader  that  thou 
«.nds  of  flsh  may  be  produced  and  raised  with  as  little  or 
p..-r  aps  less  difficulty  than  a  tenth  of  the  same  number  of 
poultry.    I  would,  however,  advise  those  who  wish  to  engage 
m  the  experiment,  to  procure  Mr.  Fry's  work,  in  which  he 
has  t^nslated  from  the  French,  '•  Facts  furnished  the  Academy 
of  Sciences  at  Paris,  by  M.  Gehin;-  «M.  Ooste's  Practical 
Instructions  in  Fish-raising  ,■"  and  «  M.  Milne  Edwards'  Eepon 
on  Artiflcial  Fish-culture,  and  stocking  barren  or  impove  . 
.shed  rivers  with  flsh  artificially  hatched."    His  book  al,o 
embraces  "Lessons  on  the  Natural  History  and  Habits  of  the 
Salmon,    by  ■■Ephemera,"  the  gist  of  which  will  be  found  in 
the  previous  part  of  this  book,  beginning  at  page  214 

The  Trout  being  on.  of  the  most  interesting  and  ea.,ily 
procured  flsh,  I  will  first  refer  to  the  method  of  breeding  i' 
:  his  fish  generally  spawns  from  the  latter  part  of  September 
to  the  fir.,t  or  middle  of  November.  The  preparatory  step  is 
to  procure  hatching-troughs. 


468 


AMBRICAN    ^^iiLBR'B    BOOK. 


These,  aa  the  reader  will  observe  from  the  cut,  are  simply 
A  succession  of  troughs  placed  one  above  the  other.  The 
water  flowing  from  the  stop-cock  B,  in  any  desired  quantity, 
into  the  topmost  trough,  falls  in  little  cascades  into  th(xse 
below,  which  aerates  it  sufficiently  during  the  term  of  hatcli- 
ing.  By  means  of  these  troughs  the  fecundated  eggs  may  be 
watched  with  care,  and  examined  without  the  danger  of  dis- 
turbing  the  process  of  incubation,  as  would  be  the  case  if 
the  spawn  was  placed  in  hatching-boxes,  according  to  M. 
Gehin's  plan,  and  deposited  in  the  stream,  and  removed  from 
it  occasionally  to  examine  them. 

The  troughs  may  be  placed  in  any  spare  room  where  it  is 
convenient  to  lead  a  small  supply-pipe,  and  place  another  for 
the  discharge  of  the  water.  They  should  be  supplied  to  the 
depth  of  four  inches  with  clean  gravel  and  a  little  coarse 
sand.  Each  trough  should  be  raised  somewhat  at  the  end 
where  it  receives  the  overflow  from  the  trough  above,  so  as 
to  cause  a  slight  current.  M.  Coste  recommendf--  i',  a  the  •  ;;g8 
be  spread  on  closely-woven  hurdles  of  willow,  and  sunk  an 
inch  or  two  below  the  surface ;  bis  reasons  for  doing  so  are 
^'^'^en  in  a  subsequent  extract.  If  the  bottoms  of  the  troughs 
are  ."c-d  wi*h  gravel,  the  water — which  may  be  supplied 
thr<>i.;;  a  rx-arter-inch  pipe — should  flow  through  them  for 
a  fev-  ;.»..  V;-,  80  as  tc  ciuove  any  impurity  amongst  the  peb- 
bles. 


Trouj 

when  pi 

removec 

than  fen 

date  the 

tukori  in 

pressure 

Hufficienl 

tank  cor 

examinee 

The  v€ 

en  ware,  v 

bottom  as 

should  he 

next  proc 


To  ExpR 

head  and  tL 


FISH-BRFlDrNO. 


469 


rrout  may  be  procured  by  c,b«„rving  them  in  the  brook 
when  preparing  to  spawn;  they  shou  J  be  taken  in  „e^  and 
removed  as  carefully  an  ponnible.     A  leas  number  of  male, 
ban  females  are  required,  as  the  milt  of  one  male  will  .ecun. 
date  the  eggs  from  three  or  four  females.     Care  should  be 
tukon  ,u  selecting  fish  that  are  well  advanced.     The  mere 
pressure  in  handling  will  cause  the  roe  or  milt  to  start  if 
sufficiently  mature;  if  it  is  not,  the  fish  may  be  placed  in  a 
tank  conveniently  near,  supplied  with   running  water,  and 
exammed  daily  until  the  proper  time  arrives. 

The  vessel  for  the  reception  of  the  spawn  may  be  of  earth 
enware,  wood,  glass,  or  tinned  iron,  and  should  have  a  flat 
bottom  as  wide  as  its  top.     After  having  washed  it  clean,  it 
should  have  one  or  two  pints  of  clear  water  poured  in.    The 
next  process  is 


To  Express  the  SPAWN.-The  female  fish  is  taken  by  the 
head  and  throat  with  the  left  Dand,  while  the  right  hand,  its 


470 


AMERICAN  ANGLER'S  BOOK 


thumb  upon  the  belly  -^ind  its  fingers  on  the  back  and  sides,  ia 
passed  liked  e  ring  lightly  backwards  and  forwards,  to  brincr 
the  eggs  near  the  opening  through  which  they  are  passed. 
The  male  fish  is  then  to  be  operated  on  in  the  same  way, 
and  the  milt  expressed ;  the  manipulation  causing  the  expul- 
sion of  only  so  much  of  the  ova  and  milt  as  may  be  perfectly 
mature.  For,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  observations  quoted 
from  "  The  Book  of  the  Salmon,"  in  a  previous  chapter,  all 
the  roe  and  milt  does  not  ripen  at  once,  but  that  the  time  of 
laying  the  eggs  and  fecundating  them  in  a  natural  way, 
extends  over  a  period  of  ten  days  or  more.  Hence  the 
necessity  of  a  tank  supplied  with  running  water,  as  a  tempo- 
rary residence  for  the  breeding  fish,  that  the  ova  and  milt 
may  be  expressed  as  it  matures. 

The  appearance  of  all  the  eggs,  whether  fecundated  or  not, 
is  much  changed  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes.  They  are 
at  first  more  opaque  than  they  were  when  discharged  from 
the  fish,  and  then  assume  their  transparency.  M.  (Joste  says 
it  is  only  after  some  days  that  the  barren  eggs  can  be  distin- 
guished from  the  fecundated,  and  that  they  deteriorate  rapidly 
become  more  and  more  opaque,  turn  white  or  dse  preserve 
their  transparency,  but  show  no  interior  change.  Takino' 
the  spawn  and  milt  from  the  fish  is  a  matter  of  so  much 
interest,  that  I  quote  his  remarks  at  length. 

"If  the  eggs  are  hard,  and  already  free  from  the  membrane 
of  the  ovaries,  the  slightest  pressure  suftices  to  expel  them, 
and  under  this  pressure  the  abdomen  is  emptied  without 
injury  to  the  female  operated  upon ;  for  the  followmg  year 
she  will  become  as  fruitful  as  if  she  had  spawned  naturally, 
as  we  have  often  had  occasion  to  observe  at  the  establishment 
at  Huningen. 

"  If,  on  the  contrary,  it  appears  that  a  greater  degree  of 
pressure  is  necessary  to  bring  out  the  eggs,  we  may  be  sure 


flSH-BBEEBINO. 


471 


'W  are  still  enclosed  in  the  tissue  of  the  organ  wind 
produces  the™,  and  that  the  operation  is  pren,atur  .    Is 

uTl:    "      r  "^  ""'''^^  i".  but  the  female  should  h 
pu    back  mto  the  pond,  and  allowed  to  remain  there  till  her 

occur,  fortf  a  female  flsh  ir  this  condition  is  kept  captive 
for  any  length  of  tin,e  in  a  oirenmscribcd  place.  herVwill 

'•If  the  females  are  too  large  to  be  held  and  emptied  of 
their  eggs  by  a  smgle  operator,  another  can  aid  him  in  hold- 
.ng  them  over  the  receptacle,  either  bypassing  his  fingers 
m  the,r  g,lls,  or  by  securing  them  with  a  cord,  and  if  the 
convuls^e  struggles  are  very  violent,  it  may  be  necessary  for 
a  th^rd  person  to  hold  the  tail.    The  opemtor,  then,  with  his 
thumbs  upon  the  thorn.  a„d  his  fingers  upon  the  animal's 
sides  presses  from  top  to  bottom  the  enormous  mass  of  eggs 
wh.ch  distend  the  coats  of  the  bcily.    The  vertical  positS, 
»  whtch  the  flsh  is  held  usually  suffices  to  press  out  the  eggs 
nearest  the  opening,  and  the  pressure  of  the  hands  repeal 
several  time,  will  succc^ively  bring  all  the  rest.  ' 

The  easy  expulsion  of  the  eggs  proves  their  maturity  for 
"  shows  they  are  detached  from  the  ovaries:  but  it  doelno 
prove  absolutely  their  capability  of  being  fecundated     ^r 
here  are  some  cases,  the  causes  of  which  we  have  not  ascer- 
«.ncd  where  -he  female  being  in  a  stream  and  a.  liberty      d 
having  gone  her  full  time,  and  her  eggs  bein»  readv  f 
Oe  .very,  yet  she  does  no,  or  cannot  fre:\er:  fClem 
-d  bemg  thus  rcuincd  past  their  time  they  lo^    heT; 
reproductive  faculty.  ^  "" 

twolT'rr'  """"  ""'^  ''°°«™^  »«8'  »f  ""^  ™«  by 
2  vdcnt  characteristics :  one  is  the  flowing  out  with  them 

of  a  foreign  matter,  of  which  there  is  no  trace  in  their  normal 

state,  which  gives  a  muddy  hue  to  the  water  when  the  eggs 


472 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


begin  to  fall  into  it ;  another  is,  the  white  color  of  these  eggs 
when  they  come  in  contact  with  the  water.  "When  iioithor 
of  these  appearances  is  observed,  we  may  be  almost  sure  the 
operation  will  be  successful ;  for  the  eggs  will  then  be  in  a 
good  condition.  But  in  all  cases  we  must  guard  against 
allowing  too  great  %  quantity  of  eggs  to  fall  into  one  vessel, 
for  if  those  on  the  bottom  are  covered  over  by  too  many 
others,  they  will  not  perhaps  come  in  contact  with  the  milt, 
which  should  reach  every  part  of  them.  It  will  be  well,  if 
the  females  are  found  to  be  very  productive,  to  empty  the 
spawn  into  a  number  of  vessels.  The  results  will  then  be 
more  satisfactory. 

"  As  soon  as  the  process  of  delivering  the  female  of  the 
spawn  is  complete,  if  it  appears  that  the  operation  of  express- 
ing it  has  brought  along  with  it  any  part  of  the  mucus  which 
is  secreted  by  her  intestines,  the  water  should  be  immediately 
changed,  so  as  to  free  it  from  every  impurity,  care  being 
always  taken  that  the  eggs  are  not  allowed  to  become  dry. 
This  done,  a  male  fish  should  be  taken,  and  his  milt  expressed 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  female's  eggs.  If  the  milt  has 
arrived  at  a  state  of  maturity  it  will  flow  abundantly,  white 
and  thick  like  cream,  and  as  soon  as  enough  has  been  taken 
from  him  to  give  the  water  in  the  vessel  the  appearance  of 
whey,  it  is  saturated  sufficiently.  But  in  order  that  the 
fecundating  particles  may  be  spread  everywhere  and  uni- 
formly, the  precaution  should  be  taken  of  agitating  the 
mixture,  and  of  softly  turning  over  the  eggs  with  the  hand, 
or  what  is  better,  with  the  fine  long  hairs  of  a  brush,  so  that 
no  part  of  their  surface  shall  escape  contact  with  the  fecun- 
dating element. 

"  After  two  or  three  minutes'  rest  the  fecundation  is  accom- 
plished, and  then  the  eggs,  with  the  water  surrounding  them, 
should   be   emptied   into  the   hatching  basins;   or  if  tliesf 


FISH-BREEDING. 


473 


basm,  are  some  distanee  removed  from  where  the  oper,t,or 
has  been  performed,  .he  water  m„st  be  renewed  before   I 
amve  at  the.r  destination,  provided  the  distanee  bono     ^ 
great,  for  then  other  means  must  be  taken 

the  semen  ,f  the  eggs  are  of  that  species  whieh  are  Lmd  to 
be  naturally  cemented  together  6,  a  gelatinous  matter       f: 
xample  are  those  of  the  Perch,  great  care  must  be  taken  no 
pu    them  apart.    This  agglutination  is  a  natural  eon<^tL: 

dlpr^:.her  ''"^"' "'  '"'"^ '  '-'^ "«  '"-^^°-  - 

■■There  is  still  another  mode  of  treating  the  mixture  of 
fecnndat,ng    particles  with  the  water,  which  serves  as 
veh,de  ana  of  aiding  their  absorption  by  the  eggs  to  h 
fecundated;  .t  is  to  place  in  the  vessel  a  euUendcr  we, 
rAlled  or  better  still,  a  fine  basket.    Into  this,  while  in  *e    • 
water    the  eggs  are  expressed,  and  then  the  milt      The 
cullender  should  then  be  moved  about,  up  and  down,  Id 
from  s,de  o  side,  care  being  taken  to  keep  it  always  in  the 
"ter.    Th.s  movement  has  a  double  result:  it  thoroughly 
"..xes  the  fecundating  liquor  and  brings  it  in  contact  tith 
every  part  of  the  eggs,  and  the  experiment  will  be  successful 
.   after  the  agitation  of  the  cullender,  it  is  allowed  to  remain 
at  the  bottom  of  the  vessel  quietly  for  two  or  three  minutes. 
A  third  process  is  to  express  into  the  vessel  the  milt,  and 
act  cause  the  eggs  to  fall  into  the  water  till  it  has  been  thus 
first  charged  with  fecundating  particles.    The  medium  being 
thus  prepared  beforehand,  the  eggs  reach  it  in  a  condition  of 
,>ecuhar  aptitude  for  absorption,  which  they  posses  in  the 
highest  degi^e  the  first  moment  of  their  immersio,,.     Th 
mode  then  seems  to  olTer  the  greater  chance  of  success     I  do 
no    mean  to  assert  that  eggs  laid  in  the  water  some  time 
before  the  milt  ,s  brought  in  contact  with  them,  lose  the 


474 


AMKRICAK    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


power  of  receiving  its  influence.  For,  many  times,  on  the 
Rhine,  I  have  had  occasion  to  observe  that  those  of  the  Sal- 
mon and  Trout  that  had  been  expressed  into  the  water 
nearly  two  hours  before  a  male  could  be  caught,  still  pre- 
served their  aptitude  for  fecundation.  But  still  it  is  an 
unfavorable  condition,  in  which,  if  possible,  they  should  not' 
be  placed;  above  all,  when  the  eggs  of  other  species  are 
treated,  which  have  not,  like  the  Salmon  and  Trout,  a  pro- 
tecting and  resisting  envelope,  but  which  are  more  sensitive 
to  the  influence  of  the  exterior  world. 

"  Another  mode  of  treating  artificial  fecundation,  and  one 
more  nearly  resembling  nature's  processes,  is  to  spread  the 
eggs  on  a  sieve  fitted  in  a  channel  or  trough  of  wood  or  stone 
through  which  runs  a  current  from  a  water-pipe,  under  thj 
spout  of  which  the  end  of  the  trough  is  placed,  and  then  to 
poui  at  this  point  the  spermatized  water,  and  leave  to  the 
running  current  the  care  of  carrying  the  vivifying  jiiirticles 
to  the  eggs;  but  to  operate  in  this  way  requires  an  apparutue 
.not  always  at  hand,  and  perhaps  only  to  be  found  in  an 
establishment  designed  for  the  business.  For  general  use  and 
ready  application  I  recommend,  therefore,  the  process  de- 
scribed at  the  commencement  of  this  chapter. 

"  The  milt  of  a  single  male  will  suffice  to  fecundate  the 
eggs  of  a  large  number  of  females,  provided  he  is  fed  while 
in  the  pond  or  tank,  and  that  care  is  taken  not  to  take  him 
from  the  brook  and  shut  him  up  there  until  his  milt  is  fully 
matured.  Of  this  fact  the  author  of  the  memoir  published  by 
the  Count  de  Goldstein  was  aware,  and  I  have  often  had 
occasion  to  verify  it  while  on  board  the  boat  of  the  fisherman 
Glasser,  at  BSle,  where  the  male  Salmon  and  Trout  emptied 
one  day  to  fecundate  the  eggs  destined  for  the  government 
establishment  at  Huningen,  are  found  gorged  the  next,  and 
«o  on  every  day,  for  the  five  or  six  during  which  their  organs 


*  ^f^f*-   4-H.I4<l 


JTSII-BREKDINO. 


475 


socrete  semen.     It  is  not  necessary  t\.      f 

i"g  on  a  lame  so.Ip  .  V"''^"^'  therefore,  m  e::periment. 

be  the  case  with  fish  nf  H  W       7  /   •  '"^  "">'  "^n 

Pike,  o.  either  of!  e^wi  f  t    T '"  "^'  "  ^^  ^""^  ""<» 
depart  from  the  lalof      ,  """'  ''"'  ""^  ^«'>- -« 

™o'e  ^perfe!;  t        rl:;::::  T'*:'"'  '"""^'"''  '"" 

Piu^eny  must  be,  and  in  either  nf  +1,^ 
Ccoses  above  mentinnori    u   •     im    ,  enner  ot  the 

.ulesineapabCr::^^^^^^^^^^^  '''  ''''-'  ^^^^  '^ 

-n  in  which  the  t^^^s  are  pZeTT  ^'  .^  ^"^^  ^'^^ 
that  the  latter  be  sixtv  fiv.  ''''^^^  recommend 

M    Coste  in   h,  ^         """  ""^'"''^  ^^°^^^«  ^^ove  zero 

•   ^''^*®  '"   ^^s  experiments,    found   thit    th. 

hatched    in   from  thirty   to   sixty   dal      V  .    -'^^^   ''''" 

water  enters      Thp  „nf .       i      .     "^  ^^^'^  '^'^^^<^  the 

iicis.     1  He  untecundated  eo-ff«  qhoi,i,q  i.    ^  i 

and  any  sediment  formino-   on   ilfr^  '^""^^^^^  *^^^«"  «"t' 
brush.  ^    ^'^   ^^'"^  '^"^^^ed  with  a  soft 

M.  Coste  give   the  following  interesting  account  of  tl. 
appearance  and  growth  of  the  youn^  in  th'  . 

escape  from  the  shell  ^  "  ^^^'  ^"^  ^^^ 


t    «'  ,  "^ 


^"^    J- 


476 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


which  covers  about  a  quarter  of  its  circumference.  Tliis  line 
which  seems  whitish  when  the  eggs  are  on  a  dark  ground  or 
opaque  when  they  are  held  up  to  the  light  (in  the  manner  in 
which  our  farmers  examine  hens'  eggs),  is  the  origin  of  the 
foetus,  and  represents  the  spinal  column.  As  this  line  in- 
creases in  size,  one  end  of  it  grows  out  to  a  point  to  form  a 
tail,  and  the  other  extends  in  the  form  of  a  spatula.  Thia 
last  corresponds  to  the  embryo's  head,  and  of  this  there  is 
soon  no  doubt,  for  the  eyes  now  appear,  two  points  of  a 
blackish  brown,  easily  distinguished,  and  forming  nearly 
two-thirds  of  the  whole  mass  of  the  head.  As  each  day 
develops  its  form,  the  young  ^fish  may  be  seen  under  the 
shell  or  membrane,  stretching  itself,  and  drawing  itself  up 
and  wagging  its  tail.  When  hatching-time  comes,  those 
movements,  the  probable  object  of  which  is  to  weaken  or  tear 
the  shell,  become  more  active.  With  Salmon  and  Trout 
there  is  another  sign  of  the  approach  of  hatching  besides  the 
quick  movements  of  the  young.  The  outpr  envelope  of  the 
egg  becomes  a  little  opaque,  and  as  it  were  furfuraceous. 
With  other  species  with  which  I  have  made  observations, 
this  sign  does  not  appear  so  plainly.  At  last  a  little  opening 
is  made  in  the  shell,  and  that  part  of  the  embryo  next  the 
opening  comes  through  it.  Ordinarily  the  tail  or  the  head 
first  appears,  but  sometimes  it  is  the  umbilical  bladder. 

"'  Whatever  part  may  be  first  disengaged,  more  than  half 
the  body  still  remains  imprisoned,  and  the  efforts  of  the 
young  fish  are  unceasing,  till  after  several  hours  it  frees 
itself  from  the  shell.  This  membrane,  which  has  protected 
its  development,  hut  has  not  served  to  form  any  part  of  its 
organs,  being  now  cast  oft)  either  is  decomposed  where  it  lies, 
or  is  carried  off  by  the  current. 

"Certain  kinds,  like  the  Pike  and  the  Forrat,  begin  imme- 
diately to  range  about  in  the  waters  where  they  have  jusi 


FISH-BRBEDINO. 


47; 


,™,in  .  ^  '"°'"'  '"'"'  e"'"'  difficulty,  and 

remam  .^.ng  „„  one  side,  or  even  on  .he  bladder  Lu 
borne  few  attempt  .0  move  from  one  place  ,0  anol  bl. 
soon  give  up  the  effort.  "uoiner,  out 


"The  time  for  hatching  is  „„,  .h^  same  with  all  species 
Some,  hke  the  Pike,  hatch  at  the  end  of  eight  ten  or  M 

"Besides  development  is  more  or  less  hastened,  according 
as  the  temperature  of  the  water  in  which  th.v  .r.  ,'.  7?°""'8 
or  Ies»  elevated.    Pike's  e^.,  „l!    a  ^  "  """" 

.l.icl.  without  beinlr  „S  w         '"  V^'V''^  ™'- "^ 

W.cl.cd  in  nine  da^  TJfe  J    3;  '^  ^  ^  ™"' "^^ 
nhnvl  in  .>,„   1,  J    ■  ""'  *'"'=  spawn  ng 

P  .  cd  .n  the  shade  m  water  constantly  renewed  took  eighteen 
»  twenty  days  to  hatch.    It  required  also  twenty  dlvo 

«     eggs  o    the  ombre,   which,  more  favorabirSe 
*l,ed  ,n  twelve  to  fifteen  days.    Still  greater  varfations  of 
«  appear  .n  the  incubation  of  other  splies  of  the  sl, 

fc  .nme  e.gs  in  a  7n^j    .        '"      ■""  ""'"^  '^^  *«'« 
•eelc,     Thrf        ,  .""''^  ="■<'»•>'  ''"1  take  seven  or  eight 

^.ed  and  ten  days,  as  was  proved  by  the  experiments  made  in 


478 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Scotland,  by  Mr.  Shaw,  to  which  I  have  referred  in  the  inrnj 
duction. 

"  During  their  change  the  eggs  should  not  be  left  to  them, 
■selves ;  they  require,  on  the  contrary,  a  certain  watchfulness 
and  frequent  visits,  in  fact,  such  care  as  can  be  easilv 
bestowed  by  the  aid  of  the  hatching  apparatus  which  I  use. 

"Whether  the  artificial  .streamlets,  which  I  propose,  be 
used,  or  in  preference  to  them  any  other  mode,  one  precaution 
should  always  be  taken ;  the  eggs  should  never  be  heaped 
upon  one  another.  Their  accumulation  prevents  a  proper 
surveillance  of  all  of  them,  and  besides  may  retard  or  even 
prevent  their  development.  Another  and  more  serious  incon- 
venience often  results :  if  one  of  the  eggs  becomes  spoiled  and 
covered  with  byssus,  this  byssus  spreads  to  the  adjoininjr 
eggs,  and  in  a  few  days  reaches  all  that  are  contig\ious  and 
destroys  them.  The  only  mode  to  diminish  the  extent  or 
arrest  the  progress  of  this  evil,  when  the  eggs  have  not  been 
heaped  up,  is  to  remove,  at  once,  from  the  hatching-place  all 
that  show  the  least  trace  of  alteration.  If  in  place  of  sacrific- 
ing, an  attempt  is  made  to  save  them  by  freeing  them,  with 
the  aid  of  a  brush,  from  the  vegetable  parasites  covering 
them,  not  only  will  it  be  a  useless  trouble,  since  the  tainted 
eggs  are  already  struck  with  death,  but  the  evil  will  be 
aggravated  by  spreading  over  the  healthy  eggs  the  particles 
of  destructive  byssus,  by  the  very  operation  of  cleansing." 

Fig.  2,  in  the  preceding  cut,  shows  the  appearance  of  a  young 
Salmon  on  emerging  fr<  m  the  egg ;  3  its  size  at  two,  and  i 
when  three  months  old.  The  umbilical  bladder  sustains  it  for 
about  four  weeks,  during  which  time  it  refuses  other  nourish- 
ment ;  at  the  end  of  this  time,  the  nutritive  matter  of  the 
bladder  is  consumed  or  rather  absorbed,  when  the  young  fish 
instinctively  begins  to  seek  its  food.  Previous  to  this,  any 
attempt  to  feed  them  is  not  only  unnecessary  but  hurtful,  as 


PISH- BREEDING. 


470 


any  an.mai  matter  thrown  in  only  serves  to  make  the  water 
impure,  and  of  course  affects  the  health  of  the  fish. 

FKEDiNG.TR0U0H8.-.The  depth  of  water  in  the  feeding,- 
troughs  need  not  be  more  than  four  inches,  and  the  area  pro- 
portioned  to  the  number  of  fish.     M.  Coste  says  he  was  ena- 
bled to  feed  and  bring  up  in  a  space  of  twenty-one  inches 
long,  SIX  .vide,  and  three  deep,  as  many  as  two  thousand 
young  Salmon  at  once.     This  seems  improbable;  the  space 
IS  certainly  more  circumscribed  than  necessary.     A  trou..h 
of  eiglit  feet  long  and  four  feet  wide  would  no  doubt  be  suffi- 
cient  for  that  number  of  young  Trout  during  the  first  three 
months,  at  which  time  they  will  likely  be  from  two  to  two 
and  a  half  inches  in  length.     They  could  then  be  transferred 
to  ponds,  the  size  of  which  may  be  about  eight  yards  wide 
and  twenty-four  long,  which  would  cover  nearly  the  twenty- 
fourth  part  of  an  acre.      According  to  such  calculation,  it 
will  be  seen  that  a  single  acre  divided  into  twenty-four  ponds 
would  sustain  forty-eight  thou.sand   Trout  during  the  first 
year. 

Food  FOR   Young  TRouT.-After  trying  several  kinds 
of  food  for  young  fish,  I  have  found  none  so  readily  received 
or  divisible  into  small  particles  as  fish-roe.     On  crumbling  it 
after  being  fried  or  boiled,  into  an  aquarium,  the  smaller  fish 
especially  those  of  a  predatory  species,  seize  a  single  egg 
greedily  before  it  falls  to  the  bottom,  and  the  Goldfish  hun! 
for  It  industriously  amongst  the  gravel,  and  leave  none  to 
affect  the  purity  of  the  water.     I  would  therefore  recommend 
It  as  preferable  to  any  other,  where  it  can  be  had  ;  if  not 
boiled  meat  of  any  kind  (as  I  have  also  ascertained  from 
expenment),  when  cold  and  crumbled  in  small  particles,  i« 
the  best  substitute.     It  is  better  to  give  a  less  quantity  than 
the  young  brood  can  consume,  for  reasons  alnady  stated 


480 


AMERICAN    ANOLEU'S    DOOK. 


After  the  fish  are  removed  to  larger  ponds,  there  is  no  doubt 
.  that  rye,  after  being  thoroughly  soaked  or  steamed,  and  then 
rolled  in  blood— which  should  be  allowed  to  dry  on  the 
grains  before  they  have  time  to  become  hard— would  be  a  desir- 
able article  of  food  to  be  given  with  the  crumbled  fibre  of 
meat. 

Any  substance  of  which  albumen  forms  a  principal  con- 
stituent promotes  the  growth  of  fish;  the  white  of  eg.rg 
would,  therefore,  be  appropriate  food.  Trout  kept  in  q>rina. 
houses  grow  to  an  immense  size  when  fed  on  nothin'r  else 
than  curds. 

The  liver  or  heart  of  a  sheep  or  ox,  '  ng  over  a  pond, 
will  produce  the  larva  of  the  common  fly,  which  will  fall  into 
the  pond,  and  furnish  a  more  natural  food  than  meat. 

With  these  hints  on  feeding,  the  render  who  is  not  already 
better  informed,  cannot  fail,  by  observatif  \,  and  ingenuity,  to 
raise  young  fish,  after  placing  them  in  ponds  larger  than 
those  already  suggested. 

Ponds  covering  a  half-acre  and  upwards,  will  afford  a  lar^e 
amount  of  natural  food  after  the  first  or  second  year,  if 
judiciously  supplied  with  aquatic  plants,  brush,  logs,  &o.- 
nevertheless,  feeding  as  we  have  suggested  will  greatly  pro- 
mote the  growth  of  the  fish.  It  is  desirable,  for  many  reasons, 
to  have  the  ponds  well  shaded.  Smaller  species  of  fish,  as 
Shiners,  Eoach,  Minnows,  &c.,  may  be  advantageously  intro- 
duced, but  not  in  ponds  where  Trout  are  intended  to  breed, 
as  they  devour  a  large  proportion  of  their  ova.  These  small 
worthless  species  furnish  a  considerable  proportion  of  food 
for  large  Trout  in  their  natural  haunts. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  I  should  not  omit  to  men- 
tion that  there  have  been  numerous  instances  of  stocking 
streams  in  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  which  had  become 
barnm  or  depopulated  by  improvident  fishing  and  poaching 


'ISII-HREEDINO. 


481 


allow  them  to  spawn  in  fl.n   .  ""  "P^"""'  ""^^ 

tl.e  usual  mode  of  arifi     T""'  '^  P""^'  ^^^^^^^"^  *« 

iccundated^oe    and  rr>   'T'^'^°''   "  ^^  '^^^  ^^« 

stocked     It  h      K     ^  ""  '^'  ^"'^^^  ^'^t^'^ded  to  be 

siocKea.     It  has  become  a  matter  n^f  ^f 

but  certain  success-  «,  m,  V  "'"'■*'  experiment, 

success,  as  much  so  as  a  farmpr  <yo«+,-„    u-      , 

or  potatoes  from  another  part  of  thl         ^        ^     '  ''^'''  ' 

increasing  the  product  and         ,!      !  ''''"''^'  '"  ^^^^  ^^ 

of  seed.  "^  "'  ^"'^^*^  ^^  *^«  -«P  by  a  change 

I  should  not  wonder  if  fishing  clubs  in  Fn.l     a  i, 

I  have  before  adverted  to  the  fi^t  fV.o+  • 
'^  -  article  of  «,„„erce  in  C  Jfa      1  T'""'''  '''^" 
Sermany,  Carp.p„„ds  drawn  off  Lth         '"  "'"°  """^  "' 
'».  .he  soi,  a,/no.  reJcC:':,    ^re^ef  ™'"™- 

thinks  the  gravel  used  in  M  r  v  ,    ,/'*->^^^^  "*  each;  and 

■p-no  .eeJt;lr:x:l:::^-- 
miles  south  of  Bethlehem  P.„„  T  "''"«'-'°"".  «  few 
N«  a  hote,  there,  h:  a^o":  ^  hT^dTh  ''""'  ^"^ 
foar  feet  long  by  two  feet  wMe  wi  'a  d  Th  Z""""^- 
o™-  eighteen  inehes  T„  ,hi  "  P""  "^  ""'">■  ""t 
from  six  to  eigh    h   nd  ed  T   'r '       *'"  '^  «^"°^""^  "- 

K.    He  has'even  ^11:  ^^"rtre""^^  '"'''' 
81  "uuarerj  m  the  same  trough, 


482 


AMBRIOAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


and  all  in  a  healthy  condition,  where  they  grow  rapidly  mA 
get  fat  on  a  small  quantity  of  curds  fed  to  them  once  a  day : 
these  Trout  are  even  preferred  to  those  caught  fresh  from  the 
Suuoon,  which  flows  close  by.  The  trough  in  question  con 
tains  seventy-two  cubic  feet  of  water,  and  when  it  has  seven 
hundred  and  twenty  Trout  in  it,  there  are  just  ten  fish  to  ii 
cubic  foot.  This  useful  aquarium  was  established  man)' 
years  ago  by  Mr.  Desh's  father ;  Trout  seldom  die  in  it.  The 
spring  which  supplies  it  rises  in  the  garden,  a  few  yards 
above,  and  would  flow  through  a  hole  an  inch  and  a  half 
square.  The  fish  are  bred  naturally  by  a  farmer  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  brought  in  large  tubs.  There  have  been  in- 
stances of  their  breeding  in  the  trough. 


FIBH-BRBKDlNtf. 


488 


THE  AQUARIUM. 


«ia»s  side,,  and  „  „,„,„„    ^"^^ "  "  ""'P'j'  »  '""^  with 

-  ^uppliod  .„  the  deph    f\ra  „;;  ""-"r  '""""•     '' 

or  M«n,?  „    1  .  °^  ^'*"''  ^"ches  with  trravel 

0  J    d  and  aquat.  plants  tastefully  introduced  in  g  o  p 
The  latter  are  not  intended  as  an  ornament  only  but  tokee  n 
the  water  pure  and  the  fish  hculthv  hv  f>,  ^^*  *°  ^««P 

they  give  off'  whil«  fh  i     ■  ^    ^  "''^°*'"  ^^i^'' 

J'  «  ve  on,  While  the  carbonic  acid  exhaled  hv  fhp  fi  u 

promotes  the  growth  of  the  plants.  ^  '^ 

The  most  convenient  size  I  have  found  to  be  one  of  th,Vt 
mches   in   length,    sixteen    wide    and   .ixt^Pn   7  )     ^ 

-I  ho.  .arly  thirty  gallons  o;:;t::rLi^ 

long.     7  here  is  no  ornament  more  beautiful  than  a  well  k  1 
Aquarium.     It  fumisliP^  n  fin .  •  weJJ-kept 

1  lurnisnes  a  fine  opportuu  ty  for  a  disnhv  nf 

«le  for  st„      11  1  ,   '7'*"  ""  °''P°""""^  °°  «  -'" 
or  stutlymg  the  habits  and  dispositions  of  fish      Rn. 

'■""i»  feh.tanks,  at  his  Museum  in  New  yI  i 

"■"■■th  the  observation  an.l  stud.  „p        ,  '  ""  "'" 

Ti".se  who  would  estlsho'^"^''™  """  "'"™'i^''- 

beneath  t^Wal;  '"""''  '"""  "o"^'' -"«"  "Life 

.antTffhrVr'"' ""*"'■"  eapaeity  will  answer  for  a 
tank,  rf  the  bottom  ,s  wide  enough  to  set  out  plants  in  it 


484 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


The  best  shape  is  one  of  four  sides.  In  a  round  vessel  the 
proportions  of  the  fish  are  distorted,  when  seen  through  the 
convex  sides,  as  any  person  has  observed  in  looking  at  Gold- 
fish in  a  glass  globe. 

Wood  is  an  objectionable  material  for  the  bottom  of  an 
Aquarium,  on  account  of  its  liability  to  warp.  Soapstone  can 
be  used,  but  cast-iron  is  the  most  suitable.  No  fear  need  be 
entertained  on  account  of  its  liability  to  contract  with  cold 
or  expand  with  heat,  as  the  water  in  the  tank  will  serve  to 
maintain  an  uniformity  of  temperature  between  the  glass 
sides  and  iron  bottom.  For  the  same  reason  the  frame  (the 
four  posts  at  the  corners  and  the  rim  around  the  top  of  the 
glass),  should  also  be  of  iron.  The  plate  glass  forming  the 
sides  and  ends  should  fit  neatly  into  grooves  in  the  bottom 
and  frame,  and  should  be  cemented  with  some  composition 
which  does  not  contain  any  ingredient  that  will  affect  the  health 
of  the  fish.  The  tank  should  be  filled  with  water  and  let 
stand  for  a  few  days,  to  see  that  it  is  perfectly  water  tight 
before  putting  the  fish  into  it. 

If  placed  at  a  window  with  a  southern  exposure,  the 
growth  of  the  plants  is  accelerated ;  though  in  such  situa- 
tion care,  should  be  used  to  lower  the  shade  of  the  window, 
if  the  sun  shines  for  any  great  length  of  time  on  the  tank. 

Clean  white  gravel  has  been  found  to  be  the  best  bottom, 
as  it  can  be  removed  whenever  it  becomes  necessary,  and 
returned  after  washing.  The  ornamental  rockwork,  such  as 
ar(ihes,  grottos,  &c.,  can  be  arranged  according  to  one's  own 
taste. 

Plants  for  the  Aquarium. — Suitable  aquatic  plants  can 
be  procured  in  almost  any  running  water  or  mill-pond  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  city.  The  ditches  into  which  the  water  from 
the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill  flow  through  sluices,  and  where 


FISH-BREEDING. 


48S 


it  WI,  and  rises  with  the  tide,  are  filled  wUh  them,  and  pro- 
iluoe  a  great  variety,  ^ 

I  have  tried  with  satisfactory  results  many  of  the  plants 
recommended  by  Mr.  Edwards,  some  of  them  meri  as 
ornaments,  others   to    supply  oxygen   to    the  water,  and 
those  that  require    no    root,  and    float   on  the  wat  r,  to 
g.ve  shade  to  the  fish.    I  have  used  the  little  plant  known 
by  the  common  name  of  "  duok-weed"  or  "  duck-raeaf  for  this 
latter  purpose.    The  only  objection  to  it,  tho...h,  is  that  fish 
hat  hve  on  vegetable  food,  as  Carp  and  Roach,  eat  it.    This 
they  w,ll  also  do  with  many  of  the  plants  beneath  the  water 

iwortwo.  Jhiaplant  IS  reniarkablvorisD  and 
muc.llag,no„s,  with  a  pleasant  flavor.  It  i,  said  brnersons 
who  profess  to  know,  that  it  is  the  "water  celery,"":;: 

tl^Z     r^'T.''^''''''  '^— of'the  Chel 

Ihle  ft    ;      .  '  ""^'■^'  '"  »"'<'  P'™'^  *at  fish 

mbblea  ;  for  the  gravel  is  frequently  strewed  with  it  and 

rte:cr''''""^''^™'^^--»^-^--^e:: 

In  .Mr.  Edwards's  lis,  of  plants,  he  specifies  those  intended 
for  ornament  and  those  for  aerators,-  of  the  former  the  cot 
mon  arrowhead  (Sagaiaria  ^.iulfoli.)  and  two  or  three  kinds 
of  water.hhes.  Of  those  used  for  the  rockwork  where  i 
comes  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  the  forget-me-not  the 
-ndew,  4c.  Those  used  for  aerating,  and  wholly  or  p^ 
-bmerged;  Fa.W^  .^ralis,  hornwor,  water  sta^" 
^2*-    »-^~.-.    Ua.:   „„*„.•,    marestail,    wat"; 

fl..gs,  a  d  forget-me-nots,  it  is  not  necessary  for  them  to  have 
roots,  these  they  soon  throw  out,  whether  floating  or  planted 


486 


AMERICAN  ANGLER'S  BOOK 


in  the  gravel.  Those  that  belong  to  the  family  of  lilies 
should  have  the  roots  encased  in  lumps  of  stiff"  clay,  and  the 
gravel  strewn  over  them  after  setting  them  out. 

After  trying  water-lizards,  tadpoles,  snails,  young  ter- 
rapins, Ac,  I  discarded  them,  and  found  that  Roach,  Goldfish, 
and  other  Cyprinoids  were  as  good  scavengers  as  the  ugly 
reptiles,  and  that  they  cleaned  the  bottom  very  effectually  of 
any  food  left  by  the  Sunfish,  and  others  of  the  Perch  family, 
which,  as  a  general  rule,  seize  their  food  before  it  falls  to  the 
bottom. 

To  prevent  the  fish  from  biting  the  plants  it  is  necessary 
to  feed  them :  care  should  be  taken,  however,  that  little  of  the 
food  remains.  A  thimble  will  contain  as  much  chopped 
meat  as  will  sustain  a  dozen  fish  for  a  week ;  half  of  that 
quantity  given  twice  a  week  would  be  better.  Flies  or  live 
insects  thrown  on  the  water  are  greedily  seized  by  the  Sun- 
fish. 

One  reason  for  preferring  a  four-sided  vessel  with  parallel 
sides  is,  that  by  standing  in  front  of  it  you  can  see  entirely 
through  it,  as  the  fish  are  moving  about.  "When  you  look  at 
them  at  a  little  distance  from  one  of  the  corners,  and  above 
the  level  of  the  aquarium,  the  refraction  creates  a  pleasing 
illusion,  each  fish  near  the  angle  appearing  like  four. 


of  lilies 
,  and  the 

jng  ter- 
&oldfisb, 
she  Ugly 
;ually  of 
1  family, 
Is  to  the 


ecessary 
le  of  the 
chopped 
'  of  that 
3  or  live 
.he  Sun- 
parallel 
entirely 
look  at 
i  above 
pleasing 


DIES  PISCATOm^. 


"  Yk  who  love  the  haunts  of  Nature, 
Love  the  sunshine  of  the  meadow, 
Love'tbo  shadow  of  the  forest, 
Love  the  wind  among  the  branches, 
And  the  rain-shower,  and  the  snow-storm, 
And  the  rushing  of  great  rivers, 
Through  tjieir  palisades  and  pine  trees, 
And  the  thunder  iu  the  mountains, 
Whose  innumerable  echoes 
Flap  like  eagles  in  their  eyries  ;— 
Listen  I" 

LONOFEUOW. 


Dii!S  PISCATOEIjE. 


Many  readers,  when  they  come  to  "Appendix,"  will  shnt 
up  a  b«,k  and  throw  it  aside,  for  the  word  sounds  to  them 
very  mnoh  hke  "  appendage,"  and  is  associated  in  their  mind, 
wtthcandal  appendage,  or,  according  to  the  nomenclature 
adopted  by  that  eminent  naturalist  Mr.  Sparrowgrass,  in  h 
observa..o„s  on  the  dog,  -organ  of  rec„gniti!n."  Such 
people  th.nk  w..h  Mr.  Sparrowgrass's  butcher,  that  a  do's 

I  diffr'.rr  t"""  ^ "  "-'---perAuousthirg. 

I  «,r  w«h  them,  for  it  is  not  so  with  the  appendix  to  a 

good  book  or  to  a  good  saddle  of  mutton.     An  author 

ftough,  or  «  pohtician,  must  not  combat  popular  prejudice,' 

f  he  would  gam  the  ear  of  the  people;  but  when  an  old 

Idea  or  an  old  pr.nc.ple  becomes  hackneyed  or  unpopular  it 

may  st.ll  be  presented  to  advantage  under  a  new  name  "bv 

e.ther  of  the  .foresaid,  as  the  case  may  be."    I  ther  f   1  dif 

card  that  stale  old  word  ..appendix,"  a'nd  use  the  ZZhu 

the  head  of  th.s  page,  to  lure  the  reader  on  to  the  end  of  the 

In  the  following  pages,  I  have  taken  up  the  old  angling 
u  hors'  d.alogue^method  of  telling  what  I  have  to  say  abou' 
fl8h.ng.places.     The  information  given  is  fact   th/ 

the  dialogue  are  real  and  of  the  "Houseless."     The  place 

or  both,  or  like  the  romance  "  founded  on  fact." 

(489) 


490 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


As  mention  of  the  "Houseless"  has  most  likely  been  made 
in  the  preceding,  and  certainly  will  be  in  the  following,  pages, 
it  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  explain  what  is  meant  by 
the  word,  or  rather  to  what  it  refers. 

About  twelve  years  since,  a  few  brethren  of  the  rod  and 
angle,  some  of  whom  had  met  for  the  first  time  on  the  stream 
and  had  become  acquainted  without  any  conventional  intro- 
duction, feeling  that  they  were  drawn  towards  each  other  by 
a  love  of  the  gentle  art,  met  by  agreement  at  the  house  of  one 
of  the  brethren,  and.  formed  themselves  into  an  association 
under  the  unassuming  name  of  the  "  Houseless  Anglers."  This 
title  was  adopted  in  contradistinction  to  the  old  Fish- House 
clubs — associations  rather  of  a  convivial  tendency  than  that 
of  pure  angling. 

All  the  members  (their  number  never  exceeded  ten)  were 
fly-fishers.  They  were  of  various  pursuits:  amongst  them 
were  a  few  artists,  professionally  so,  and  two  more  who  were 
merely  amateurs.  To  one  of  the  latter  I  am  indebted  for  the 
vignettes  and  some  of  the  drawings  of  fish  found  in  this 
book. 

Stated  meetings  of  the  association  have  fallen  into  disuse 
of  late  years,  some  of  the  "  Houseless"  having  removed  to 
neighboring  cities,  and  some  to  the  country ;  but  as  many  as 
can  do  so,  meet  occasionally  in  a  social  and  informal  way,  and 
whatever  their  tenets — religious,  political,  or  otherwise — they 
are  one  as  regards  angling,  and  still  the  subject  that  most 
interests  them  is  fly-fishing,  v/ith  its  blessed  associations  and 
scenes. 

The  prevalent  feeling,  or  if  the  reader  is  so  disposed  to 
call  it,  the  sentiment  amongst  the  members  has  been  to  avoid 
display  or  notoriety,  or  setting  forth  their  piscatorial  achieve- 
ments in  public  print;  believing  with  Izaak  Walton,  that 
fishing,  like  virtue  "  is  its  own  reward."    Also,  as  far  as  they 


1>IES   PISCATORI^, 


481 


world     These  lessous  they  endeavor  to  teaeh  by  preceot  and 

ZT''  *"—  "=<7  «nd  those  who  desire  to  be TtCed 
in  the  mysteries  of  their  craft  'nstructed 

When  the  "Houseless"  wen.  organized  as  a  elub  our  good 
president  wa.,  appointed  to  d™ft  .  set  of  rules  for  our  Jdaut 
and  a  preamble  and  address  setting  forth  the  obieft  of  o^; 
-.«ia..on.    It  has  Iain  undisturbed  on  a  shelf  rfC!  talkie 
closet,  bound  in  its  cover  of  »r,^^    .  v  "^ 

wuh  an  old  «.hin,i~:t;?::;^rir  LI 

enca    T\hy  should  I  not  insert  it  here?    I  think  it  will 
touch  a  chord  of  sympathy  in  every  devout  angle^C  hi     ' 

PREAMBLE. 

all  true  anglers,  having  i„  'ie^  tl  T^J^     ^       T  *''  '''""^^  "^^ 

pWe  the  happ,  hours  .e  have  pa    "  CC    :r'^  "T'' 
peaceful  friendship  which  has  ripened  there  doTa  ^'T  "  ' 

sentiments  esp  essed  in  th«  r.'T     •        . .  "'^''^  '"'"""^  '"  *'^3 

D.».. ,_       '^       '^  '°  "''  ^'"^"^'"S  «^<J'«««  by  our  brother,  W.  M***»» 

ADDRESS. 
Con<.mpl«.i„  M™.,  ReoreatioB...    Therein  He l-J     !      *      '  "  """ 


492 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


thought3  that  now  possess  me  of  angling,  not  only  of  the  high  antiquity 
o{  it,  but  that  it  deserves  c'bmmendation,  and  that  it  is  an  art,  and  an  art 
worthy  the  knowledge  and  practice  of  a  wise  man." 

That  we  have  conversed  with  this  humble,  zealous,  loving  heart,  not  for 
hours,  but  through  long  years,  and  that  we  are  "  possessed  with  those  higli 
and  happy  thoughts"  concerning  the  "  gentle  art,"  let  our  present  meet- 
ing, our  Brotherly  Association,  and  our  future  study  and  practice,  bear 
witness. 

Two  centuries  have  well  tested  the  beautiful  spirit  manifested  in  his 
work,  and  it  seems  to  me  most  happily  appropriate  that  at  this  time  we,  a 
few  humble  followers  in  his  footsteps,  recognising  the  power  of  association 
do  unite  to  lend  each  other  a  helping  hand  in  the  attainment  of  that,  which 
he  was  assured  "was  worthy  die  knowledge  and  practice  of  a  wise  man." 
That  we  are  wise  men,  I  shall  not  stop  to  maintain,  but  that  we  do  love 
angling  we  are  assured  of,  and  therein  we  know  we  are  in  unison  with 
very  many  greatly  wise  and  wisely  good  men. 

So,  filled  with  this  love,  the  desire  to  ennoble  our  art  in  this  western 
world,  and  a  sense  of  the  kind  confidence  you  have  reposed  in  me,  I  have 
thought  it  was  right  to  lay  before  you  "  some  of  the  thoughts  which  have 
possessed  my  soul  since  we  few  have  met  together." 

A  handful  of  sand,  thrown  with  what  force  soever  into  a  placid  pool 
could  scarcely  do  more  than,  for  an  instant,  ruffle  the  glassy  surface  ;  yet 
these  same  particles  associated  and  compacted  into  a  stone,  and  but  dropped 
in,  will  produce  not  only  a  wave  but  a  succession  of  wavelets  which  will 
reach  the  utmost  confinet  of  the  pool ;  indeed,  learned  men  tell  us 
that,  be  the  ocean  ever  so  large,  these  little  waves  will  continue  until  the 
whole  vast  surface  feels  the  influence  of  the  associative  force  of  these  same 
particles.  Even  so  with  us.  Either  in  the  little  pool  of  local  mind  by 
which  we  are  surrounded,  or  in  the  illimitable  ocean  of  the  earth's  mind, 
we,  as  individuals,  fall  as  the  grain  of  sand  unfelt ;  yet  bound  together  by 
a  common  sentiment,  we  may  by  association  possess  new  powers  and  pro- 
perties, even  as  the  stone  possesses  other  powers  and  properties  than  the 
shifting  sand,  and  by  these  powers  we  may  produce  efiFects  reaching  far 
beyond  the  circumscribed  limits  of  our  home  or  city.  Whether  that  effect 
be  for  good  or  evil,  is  for  us  in  a  considerable  degree  to  determine.  That 
the  effect  be  for  good  is  my  most  earnest  desire,  and  that  it  ma;/  be,  our 
aim  should  bo  elevated,  even  as  I  before  said,  to  the  ennobling  of  the  art 
of  angling,  thereby  commending  it  to  those  "who,  being  born  to  it,"  need 
only  "  the  discourse  and  practice"  to  win  them  to  that  which,  "  having 


DIBS    PISCATORI^. 


498 


once  got  and  practised,"  "  thev  will  fin,]  i-i.     •  . 

«.d  U,,  n,o,.  „„„™  Ji„ '7  ""  "°''' '"'  """•■  •»  ^«  "•  »-  '«™«'." 

.  «,.d.,.,„r  of  ,h.  p...i„„,  .  pr«„„„f  »„,e„M„.,  Tr.  ',7     ' 
hab„.ofpe„.a.d  p.«.„„.  ,„  ^„,  .,„.  .  T;;."      l.^T; 

".  .0  ..u  ,,  .each,  and  p™„.U,  a.  ^  .„.  ,„  wh.«oe  Jp"  c   .  ,  .„! 
mj  bo  thrown,  be  there  but  water  and  «.),„    i  .  ^^  ' 

i»  .be  .akin,  of  these  a.he.,  in"  ^    ''n*;"'"  »;■'  "P« 
to  be  this.  ^  ^  P   "'  ^^^^^  seemeth  to  mo 

The  angler  is  best  pleased  in  capturing  the  kind  of  fi«h  f       u-  u   . 
-t  was  made;  the  fisherman  is  pLed Lo  d^^to  1  :^^^^^^^  ''' 

ture.     The  taking  of  a  good  trout  to  «  fi«h  ,  *"'  "''P" 

-  an...  .he  p,:a.„r.^.  :r :d^"t:T:er;i",ra7:  "''■■ 

made  e.peoi.ny  for  the  oaptnre  of  .  ohub  or  In  1  'H     T     .     """ 
...^br„.erorthean,,e,..Whon,onr.:.tin  r  'ol:,.'""'* 

..nt...h  no..,  aboondthj  ::*„:!'::;  :.r  Tr^' '™"- 

even  thus  little      Sn    «,    ^  •     ^  ^     ''       ^"^^  ^^'"'^  ™ay  beget 

and  .tore  't  nl  o     „:."!"  .t"  '"  T  ''"'  ""^  '"  -•-  '^- 

in  the  power  and  wiado™       ."""'""S"  •=»°""'  «°'l  i»crea.e  confidenoe 
power  and  wrsdom  and  pr„v,dene.  of  Al„.igh„  Q„d,  1  will  „.l|, 


494 


AMERICAN    ANGLKR'S    BOOK. 


the  meadows  by  some  gliding  stream,  and  there  contemplate  the  lilie« 
that  take  no  care,  and  those  very  many  other  various  little  living  creatures" 
that  were  not  only  made  but  fed,  man  knows  not  how,  by  the  goodness  of 
the  God  of  nature,  and  therefore  trust  in  Him. 

"  And  let  the  blessing  of  St.  Peter's  Master  be  with  mine,  upon  all  tint 
are  lovers  of  virtue  and  daro  trust  ia  His  Providence,  and  be  quiet,  and 
go  iv-angling." 


THE  NOONDAY  ROAST. 


"  Son*  boyn  belonging  to  ftn  old  field  nchool, 
3l«.-niaae<l  nt  twelve,  a  long  eotabliahed  rji), 
At  tliey  discnaaed  their  bread  and  lionea  of  bacon, 
Strange  tales  were  told,  andjokea  were  gl"n  and  taken." 

BiRn  (tint  iV.  P)  Wiiiig, 


I    1 


THE  NOONDAY  ROAST. 
I  HAT.  „ften  thought  that  the  fly.flsher  who„  expenc.* 

hort  of  some  of  the  pleasure,  that  can  be  crowded  into  a  dav 
m  the  stream,  and  that  the  angler  who  has  never  enjoyed  if 
.a,.^rt.n,<o,,w>..     The  roast  has  long  been  an   ns ' 
.on  amongst  the  ;•  Houseless :"  some  of  the  me.nbers  of , 

lutle  club  were  mitiated  into  its  mysteries  iu  days  "Ian. 

joe,    by  Chester  Darby  or  Uncle  Peter,  on  the  BLerW  ? 
.nee  wh.eh  ,ts  c«,„W  has  improved,  and  manv  pleal  t' 

hours  have  been  passed  .,„d„  ,he  dark  .ugar-mapfe  or  b" 

c    k.ng,  eafng.  ,.„k.„g,  chatting,  sleeping;  mLy  a    o 

ZL        ""'' "'"'  "^"■"•^  "^--"^ "  '^^  >^ 

A  provident  ^sher  who  leaves  his  lodging  after  breakfast, 
mth  the  prop,  r  necessaries  for  a  roast,  need  no,  .rudge  hon.c 
«  the  ho,  sun  to  get  his  dinner,  or  munch  his  cold  snack  o 
pass  h,s  t,me  irksomely  or  unprofltablv  during  th.  ,  u^'^f 
m.dday,  when  Trout  merely  nip  at  one's  flies  i!  the  r^s  and 
utterly  d,sregard  them  in  stiil  pools.    But  to  begin  ■- 

When  the  angler  leaves  his  quarters  for  a  day's  fllhing  Jet 
nm  ake  as  large  a  portion  of  a  loaf  of  bread  as  will  sufflt' 
for  the  party  fro,u  which  he  will  remove  so  much  ofTh 
cru„,b  or  , ns.de,  as  will  leave  a  cavity  large  enough  to  h  h 
^s  much  but,,.,,  as  he  deem,  neeessarv  ;  after  the  hoi  is  fllM 
«h  butter,  ,.  is  covered  with  a  slice  of  bread.     T    „ 
-.h  salt  and  pepper,  a  few  matches  in  one  of  his  pi;:,' 

(497) 


498 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


above  high-water  mark,  and  his  "  provender"  wrapped  in  a 
large  napkin  or  handkerchief,  and  slung  over  his  shoulder 
he  is  ready  for  a  start.     If  it  is  the  iAtention  of  the  party  to 
go  up  the  stream,  a  bottle  of  claret  or  ale  may  be  added. 
After  selecting  a  place  of  rendezvous,  the  pack  may  be  hid 
close  by  in  the  bushes,  or  in  an  old  stump,  or  a  hollow  loi^, 
and  the  party  can  then  go  up  and  fish  down  stream  to  the 
"cache,"  making  the  distance  and  time  suitable.    On  arriving 
at  the  place  for  dinner,  select  a  suitable  location  for  building 
the  fire,  and  place  rods  and  creels  to  the  windward.    While 
some  are  gathering  wood  and  building  the  fire,  let  others  col- 
lect a  few  clean  flat  stones  for  plates,  and  put  them  in  a  posi- 
tion before  the  fire  to  warm  properly.    Tf  you  wish  a  roast, 
select  the  smallest  fish,  those  under  nine- inches  are  best- 
scour  them  well  in  sand,  wash  them  clean,  and  open  them, 
but  allow  no  water  to  touch  the  inside,  as  the  blood  and 
natural  juices  of  the  fish  should  be  retained  as  far  as  possible ; 
cut  off  the  heads,  score  them  (not  too  deeply),  and  pepper 
and  salt  them  well  inside  and  out.    Cut  one  or  more  branches 
(sweet  birch  is  best),  with  as  many  twigs  or  shoots  on  them 
as  is  required  for  the  number  of  fish  to  be  roasted,  and  stick 
a  fish  on  each  twig,  either  end  foremost,  running  the  twig 
along  the  upper  side  of  the  backbone,  and  hold  them  to  the 
fire.     By  keeping  an  eye  on  the  inside  of  your  fish,  it  is 
easy  to  ascertain  when  they  are  done.     Always  take  them  off 
with  a  twist  or  wrench,  to  disengage  the  twig  from  the  flesh, 
and  lay  them  on  a  hot  stone,  buttering  them  while  warm. 

In  baking  or  steaming  them  under  the  coals  and  ashes  do 
not  cut  off  the  head?,  but  season  them,  and  then  take  a  piece 
of  strong  thin  paper  and  smearing  it  thinly  with  butter,  roll 
a  fish  in  it,  and  then  envelope  it  in  five  or  six  plies  of  coarse 
stravj  paper;  after  saturating  each  fish  so  encased  in  the 
stream,  lay  them  side  by  side  in  a  bed  of  hot  ashes  and  coals ; 
cover  them  up,  and  give  a  minute  to  an  inch :  that  is,  if  a  fish 


DIES   PISCATORI^. 


499 


is  ten  inches  lone-   o-iVa  it  ♦ 

o  loug,  give  It  ten  ninutec  and  so  nn      wi 

7«u  uncover  the™,  .hey  o«  be  removecl  frl  .h.  ™ 
l^y  mserting  ,he  forked  e„d  of  a  Ion/,  i  IT  ."  "" 
■Irawing  them  out.     When  17, 1  T  ''™'°"''  -""^ 

unrol,  the™  crefuH^      /flat  h!:  '>'"  °' '"^  ?"?« 

Aem  to  your  likin/r,     u  "''  "P*"  ""'*  Gutter 

I  .he  Jr. e  7;  rr  ''""«'"''"°"^»"»»y; 
a^r  but  ho;::::;,,!^?''  '""'•"  "'"^^  -  •^  ^""^  f- 

Of  course  it  will  .^cur  to  the  diaer-out  tl,»,  .  l 
necessary  in  bakin.  ,!,„„  ;  '  '  ''"'«<"■  A™  w 

down  well  in  ordeTtl  ^  ™f  °^'  ""'  *"'  "  ^''""M  burn 
a"d  ashes  Wo  I!  t"  t  "'"'^''^  ^"'"""^  °'  "-'^ 
i"  this  n.anner  ^^o:::  C"  'T'  ''"  •'"^'  "^^'^'^ 
them  on  the  stream,  Jfryi;'::  Z  f  ^  -^'s  of  cooking 
heated  in  ,),«  «  ^  "°°'''  "'''ioh  have  been 

« tis':'i;T;t'"^':'"-  ^»^  --  -  '0: 

one  is  never  ::^:^J^Z:'::;T:T '' '  """^ 
cooked  indoors     Old  .n  l       T  *   '  *''*^  ^^  ^rout 

-e.  -t  the;  Ji:fi:„  n;r«-  ^  -  -^ 

™.ple  way  of  providing  a  sumptuLs  d  nt"  anthV';: 
indoor  methods  with  tV,a,V      •  "^'^""er,  and  that  all 

l.e  compared  w  l^^rlti  TT"  °'''"'''"""'  "'''^  ■>"'  '» 
.-Hs'thesur:.  m:rorr:.  *"f  r'"'"^  "^^^  ''^ 
««et  juices  of  the  fish.  *  """"■'"   «"»■■  ""d 

There  is  also  a  good-humored  dash  of  vagabond!,™ 
Pawmg  a  dinner  of  this  kind  ■  and  ,      ""  ,°f '™  "«»» 
from  a  eoai,  and  kick  the  sn    J  ^^  l^:  "f  ^""  P'P" 
■ooking  utensils  aside,  there  is  To!;  1 7    .         "''"™'"" 
ftovidence  and  your  own  s  ilT  LT  '"  "  ''°™'"'"' 

i- plates  of  the'same  M^::' 'thr::?'" °"-^  "  "'"'  """ 

»":"r:.i2:k:rxr^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

--est  pocket,  and  rub  the  fra^dVbLitrh!:::; 


500 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


your  leader  and  dropper,  and  light  a  fresh  pipe ;  and  as  you 
wade  into  the  limpid  water,  you  will  find  your  rod  to  deliver 
the  line  straighter,  and  your  flies  to  fall  lighter  than  they  did 
a  few  hours  ago,  and  yourself  cooler  in  the  contest  that  awaits 
you  with  the  speckled  beauty  that  refused  your  fly  bafore 
dinner,  and  is  now  ready  to  give  you  a  tussle ;  and  the  expe- 
rience of  the  "Houseless"  has  been  that  the  rift  or  the  pool 
nearest  our  fire  furnishes  a  few  moments  of  the  most  active 
and  exciting  sport  we  experience  in  the  day's  fishing. 


FIRST    NOONING. 

TROUT.FISHING  IN  HAMILTON  COITNTY,  N.  Y. 


''  But  he  heard  the  Wawonaisa, 
Heard  the  Whippoorwill  complainiitg, 
Perched  upon  his  lonely  wigwam ; 
Heard  the  rushing  Sebowiaha, 
Board  the  rivulet  rippling  near  him, 
Talking  to  the  darksome  forest ; 
Heard  the  sighing  of  the  branches, 
As  they  lifted  and  subsided 
At  the  passing  of  the  night-wind; 
Heard  them,  as  one  hoars  in  slumber 
Far  o?  murmurs,  gentle  whispers." 

LoNorcuow. 


TROUT-FISHING  IN  HAMILTON  COUNTY,  N.  Y. 

FIRST  NOONING. 

IScene,  the  «hady  bank  of  a  Trout-Stream.-Time.  after  the  Roa^t- 
Present:  Norman,  Walter,  and  Nesmb.] 

Walter.   Well,  about  fishing  at  Lake  Pleasant  and  Louie 
Lake ;  how  do  you  get  there  ? 

Kestob.  The  usual  rou.,  is,  or  was,  by  way  of  Albany 
and  Amsterdam,  a  station  some  thirty  miles  beyond,  on  the 
New  York  Central  Railroad,  where  you  take  a  stage  or  private 
conveyanee  to  NorthviUe,  and  there  another  for  Lake  Pleas. 
ant, 

Brundage,  a  spry  old  fellow  of  seventy,  u^ed  to  drive  us  up 
from  NorthviUe,  and  as  we  trotted  merrily  along  the  Sagan 
doga,  and  crept  up  the  ascent  of  the  table-land,  whose  forests 
embosom  the   beautiful  lake,  and  heard  the  waters  of  the 
outle   dashing  through  the  ravine  below,  i„  the  dim  twilight 
or  pale  moonshine,  the  garrulous  old  man  would  entertain  us 
with  stones  about  his  son-in-law  Partridge,  or  as  he  called 
hin.     I  atridge,"  who  kept  the  tavern  where  we  had  dined  on 
wild-pigeon  squabs,  or  tell  us  of  tlie  "  Piseco  Club,"  who  went 
up  the  week  before,  and  that  it  took  one  wagon  to  carry  the 
anglers,  and  another  to  carry  their  meat  and  drink.     Their 
h«hmg,  though,  must  have  exceeded  their  feeding,  for  we  have 
It  on  record,  that  they  caught  in  one  week  over  eight  hundred 
pounds   of  Lake  and   Brook   Trout.     Our  little   club,   the 
Houseless,    were  only  occasional  not  annual  visitors,  and 
fished  the  lakes  and  rivers  north  of  Piseco  Lake. 

(503) 


604 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Holmes  formerly  kept  a  house  for  the  entertainment  of 
sportsmen  at  the  upper  end  of  the  lake,  near  the  stream  of 
water  which  connects  Lake  Pleasant  with  Bound  Lake.  I 
always  preferred  stopping  at  Satterlee's,  a  house  of  less  ureten- 
sion,  at  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Pleasant,  near  the  outlet,  which 
was  four  miles  nearer  Jessup  Kiver  and  Louie  Lake. 

The  first  week  in  June  is  considered  the  most  favorable 
time  for  visiting  Hamilton  County ;  then  there  is  good  troll- 
ing in  the  lakes ;  fly-fishing  is  at  its  height  a  week  or  so 
later.  There  were  good  boats  for  trolling  the  lakes,  and 
expert  oarsmen  who  also  acted  as  guides  for  the  guests  of 
both  houses — toiigh,  sinewy  fellows  who  could  carry  a  pack 
of  forty  or  fifty  pounds,  and  the  inseparable  and  indispensable 
axe  on  their  backs  all  day  long,  and  a  gun  also,  if  you  had  a 
fancy  for  the  steak  of  a  yearling  buck. 

A  few  days  on  Lake  Pleasant  and  Eound  Lake  generally 
gave  us  trolling  enough ;  hitching  on  to  a  big  "  laker"  and 
smoking  a  whole  segar,  while  you  waited  on  him  in  his  runs 
and  sulks,  ceased  to  be  sport  after  performing  several  feats  of 
the  kind,  and  we  would  long  for  more  active  service  amongst 
the  speckled,  notwithstanding  the  certainty  of  encountering 
the  mosquitoes  and  black  flies  in  camping  out.     Our  return, 
though,  to  a  good  straw  bed  at  Satterlee's,  and  a  day's  trolling 
on  the  lake,  was  what  my  friend,  the  little  Doctor,  called  a 
"letup." 
Norman.  But  rbout  the  fly-fishing  and  camping  out  ? 
Nes.    Every  man  ought  to  enjoy  the  sentiment  of  campirxg 
out,  if  only  for  once  or  twice  in  his  lifetime.     You  have  your 
provisions  packed   and  the  guide   straps  it  on   his  back; 
perhaps  the  landlord  gives  a  lift  with  his  wagon  as  far  as  the 
road  is  practicable,  if  there  is  one  in  the  direction  of  your 
place  of  destination.     When  you  get  to  your  camping-pla(!e 
the  guide  makes  a  shanty  of  spruce-bark,  which,  with  a  fire  in 


BUS    PISCATORIJi. 


606 


front  Of  ,t  is  hot,  if  the  nights  are  warm ;  or  one  of  hemlock 
roughs  wh.ch  is  like  a  patent  ventilator  or  a  refrigerate    f 

not  extend  beyond  a  few  days  or  a  week.    A  couple  of  us 
once  set  up  our  shanty,  or  rather  our  guide  did  it  f^  „s  1  , 

t::^::  "  "^  ".'"'"'"  clearing,.,  eight  or  nin    'J^^e 
from  Satterlees,  on  lue  Jessup  Eiver.    I.  was  a  beautiful 
eminence  of  four  or  five  hnr,A^^  oeaumul 

.  Hundred  acres,  covered  with  fern. 

In  olden  times  the  tribe  of  St  B.  •    t  j- 
.l,i„f  „t,  J        J  ''« /noe  ot  bt.  Begis  Indians  made  it  their 
chief  abode  and  their  Wges  covered  the  top  of  the  hill     We 
made  our  shanty  on  the  wooded  slope,  within  hearing  of  the 
rapids  to  avoid  the  cool  night  winds.    My  recollection  tf  S 

Hia»,  .ara.— shall  I  repeat  them  to  you? 

Nob.  Idon^like  Longfellow.s  hexameters,  they  jingle  like 

he  song  of  -The  Nigger  Gin'raV  .hat  Old  Dick  C  opt     e^ 

rrjli.''"''^"  --Pa-i-.-go  on  and^eli:! 

Nls.   You  are  no  poet.-Well,  when  you  fish  the  ripples 
you  wade  of  course;  but  there  is  not  a  great  deal  of  rough 
water  in  that  part  of  the  country,  though  there  are  »„    "S 
on  J«np  Eiver  and  the  outlets  of  some  of  the  lakes.    All  he 
month  of  June  you  have  great  sport  in  the  rapids  but  "iter 
hat  time  there  is  apt  to  be  but  little  water  on  them,  a  dt 
fch  are  found  mostly  in  deep,  still  water,  where  =00   spr  1 
brooks  enter.    In  the  early  part  of  June  J  have  filled  aC 
oree   during  the  last  hour  of  an  afternoon  by  fishing    he 
np*,  but  in  that  space  of  time  the  flies  have  take!   1 
»..8ler  as  oflen  as  th,   fish  have  taken  his  flies,  and  w  h 
slapping  and  scratching,  you  are  glad  when  at  sundown  you 
»«  the  guide  away  down  the  river  under  the  lee  of  a  good 


506 


AMERICAN    ANtfLBR'S    BOOK, 


smudge  and  you  hurry  along  to  seek  the  protection  of  its 
friendly  though  almost  blinding  smoke. 

Nor.  You  say  you  cannot  fish  the  still  waters  without  a 
boat;  where  do  you  get  one  if  you  are  far  away  from  your 
quarters  ? 

Nes.  Part  of  a  guide's  business  is  to  have  some  sort  of  a 
boat  on  all  the  waters  where  he  may  be  required  to  pilot  the 
angler  during  the  summer ;  if  on  a  stream  of  alternate  rapids 
and  still  water,  any  kind  of  a  light  boat  or  scow  is  concealed 
in  the  undergrowth  along  the  bank ;  if  a  distant  lake  is  to  be 
fished,  or  an  outlet  leading  from  one  to  another,  a  shapely  easy 
rowing  boat  is  hidden  where  it  can  be  found  when  required. 
The  boats  are  used  also  for  deer-hunting  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  and  are  generally  hauled  to  such  places  on  sleds  during 
the  previous  winter. 

Your  guide  rows  you  over  miles  of  dark  water  wooded 
to  its  very  brink ;  he  will  tell  you  there  is  no  fishing  there, 
though  if  you  are  content  to  troll,  you  may  take  n  straggler 
now  and  then.     After  a  while  he  will  stop  at  some  bend  of 
the  river  or  by  a  high  rock,  to  you  as  unlikely  a  looking 
place  as  any  you  have  passed  over,  and  tell  you  to  get  ready 
and  go  to  work.     Then  if  you  get  your  flies  over  the  fish  in 
almost  any  way,  so  you  do  not  make  too  much  of  a  stir  or  go 
too  close,  you  have  a  fellow  of  a  pound  and  a  half  at  the  first 
cast,  and  as  he  goes  sailing  around,  another  of  a  pound  may 
take  a  fancy  to  your  other  fly.     Take  it  coolly,  and  perhaps 
you  may  have  two  or  three  dozen  from  twelve  to  sixteen 
inches  long  before  you  move.     If  you  ask  your  guide  why 
the  fish  should  be  there,  and  not  in  the  water  you  have  passoci 
over,  he  will  likely  point  out  a  little  spring  branch  which 
s  eals  its  way  into  the  river  through  the  rank  grass  or  water- 
lilies;  the  fish  collect  there  because  the  water  is  cooler,  and 
you  may  catch  the  whole  school  on  a  favorable  day,  and  in  a 


DJE8    PISCATORI^. 


607 


I 


week  or  .en  days  the  p„„i  will  be  ,.«,ked  with  a.  ,,reat  a 
i-  «.m  remain  until  spawning  time. 

fnnrl  ,.f  u;ii-  ^j"t»i  eaien.     Anglers  who  are 

»Mfe,t  of  ftsh-catching,    whicl,   in   »lf  '  ""' 

an.'lin..     Tt  i  '^''^  "  "■>'  strictly 

re    „„d  of,,-"  ^"'"  ''"'■""■^  <■"■■  ™"k-^  fi^''™™,  who 
re  fond  of  telhng  a  good  «t„ry  when  they  get  home  thou.I 
...etr  .ueeesa  generally  depc.,.,1.,  ,„ore  on  tLir  .u.'ie?     t 
anvskil    of  their  own      T  .  oUKiCh  than 

fishermen  who  n  OlTsi    '."T  '"'="'  "  """P'"  "'  ««l™t 
men  Whom  01,1  Sturgi.s  had  taken  to  Louie  Lake  fil,-. 
forty  weight  out  of  a  pool  not  l„r„er  than  th.  fl         r 
parlor.     For  mv  mrf  T  w     1 1        ,  ""■■  "'^  ^'"'■"' 

HI-.  .I,-  ""-^P"''  I  '"""IJ  rather  fish  clear  liveW  water 

■te  th,,,  w.th  strong  rift,,  and  occasionally  a  still  „„„[.,, 
-  banks  sometimes  oycrhnng  with  lau'e  la|  t  T 

en  a  ,tret,h  of  clean  gravelly  heach,  for  here  the  an!  e-  .^s 

rapid  water.     ,       """'"=  S'^'^'"^'- 'P""  °f  billing  a  fish  in 
Jon.  Brook  Trout  are  a-„  .aken  hy  trolling,  are  they 


608 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Nbs.  Certainly,  I  have  had  great  aport  on  Whittaker  Lake, 
a  little  sheet  of  water  between  SattiM-lee's  and  the  Indian  Clear- 
ing.  Some  of  the  lakes  apjwar  Uj  have  a  variety  peculiar  to 
their  own  water.  Tliose  of  Ijouie  Lake  are  very  long  and 
round  in  the  body  and  exceedingly  active.  Tw..  of  us  once 
got  our  f]-ioud  Satterlee  to  haul  a  boat  from  Lake  Pleasant 
and  launch  it  in  Echo  Lake,  u  fairy  little  water  a  mile 
or  so  from  his  house,  to  troll  for  some  Brook  Tro-it  of  fabu- 
lous size  which  we  were  told  inhabited  it.  We  returned  at 
nightfall  with  one  Trout,  which  Old  Sturgis  declared  was  "as 
broad  as  a  spruce  shingle."  We  did  not  weigh  it,  but  it  took 
four  hungry  men  to  eat  it  for  supper. 

Walt.  How  wide  was  the  spruce  shingle  to  which  the  old 
guide  compared  the  Trout  ? 

Nes.  You  must  not  cross-question  me.  I  have  said  that  we 
did  not  use  the  scales,  nor  an  inch-measure ;  the  measure  was 
our  appetites,  and  Sturgis's  comparison  was  what  Father  Tom 
Maguire  calls  "a  figure  of  speech."  If  you  want  facts,  with 
dates,  and  figures  of  arithmetic,  I  refer  you  to  the  appendix 
to  Dr.  Bethune's  edition  of  Walton,  where  he  gives  extracts 
from  the  journal  of  the  Lake  Piseco  Club. 

Nor.  How  about  deer-shooting  ?  you  spoke  just  now  of  a 
steak  from  a  spike  buck  ? 

Nes.  Spike  bucks  and  young  does,  are  the  only  good  veni- 
son you  get  in  June,  the  old  does  have  fawns  at  that  time,  and 
old  bucks  are  out  of  season.  You  must  go  after  the  middle 
of  August  for  deer-hunting.  Our  guide  once  sent  his  dog  out 
and  drove  a  deer  into  the  water  within  a  hundred  yards  of 
us,  but  there  was  more  murder  than  sport  in  killing  it.  After 
it  swam  some  distance  from  the  shore  we  put  after  it ;  a  short 
race  brought  the  boat  alongside,  when  the  guide  garroted  it 
with  a  leather  thong  tied  to  the  two  prongs  of  a  forked  stick ; 
he  passed   his  knife  across  its  windpipe,  and  the  "antlered 


«IBS    PISCATORi;b. 


609 


Trndh     :,"7."«"'"      "^'^  "  ™n  on  a  drive  .„ke, 
b.a  stand  h„  blood  „  up  „itl,  the  excitement  of  the  el.ase 
and  as  the  buek  bounds  by  at  full  tilt,  the  bee,  „f    i^  Z' 

barrel  and  l„s  fluger  „,«t,nctivoly  finds  the  trigger:  but  this 
cold-blooded  murder  should  be  made  „  eupital  oLce    G re 
numbers  of  deer  are  sometimes  destroyed' where  they  e!l 
<lur,„g  the  t,me  of  a  deep  snow,  in  what  are  ealled  Crf.  " 
when  „  eontmued   tran.ping  make,  a  depressed  eneC; 
from  „h,eh  they  are  unwilling  or  unable  to  eseape.    ,17; 
!  '""  ">osewho  follow  hunting  as  a  business  oomeu  on 
them  on  the.r  snow-shoes,  shc«t  them  down,  .;d  send  'b 
vemson  to  market.    A  eon.inued  restriction  to  a  yard  hout 
makes  them  very  lean.  ^       tnough, 

Walt.   You  intimated  that  there  wore  four  of  you,  on  .our 

•ast  visit  to  Lake  Pleasant-  ri;,i  ,\.       u  ,  onyour 

ane  rieasant ,  did  the  whole  party  l'o  together 

when  you  camped  out  ?  ^  ^    together 

Nes.   a  pair  of  us  only,  when  we  wanted  good  fishing  and 
he  who^  party,  when  we  were  not  so  eager  and  wanted  a  god 
t^-e;   then  the  little  Doctor  was  an  important  personal 
you  ought  to  have  k^own  him  twelve  or  fo'^teen  yZlTjj. 

be  IS  a  sedate  man  now.  then  he  never  c..^  ^uiet  when 
on  an  excursion,  ^  ^° 

"  But  spent  his  days  in  riot  moat  uncouth 
And  vexed  with  mirth  the  drowsy  ear  of  night  ■ 
Ah  me !  in  sooth  ho  was  a  shameless  wight,       ' 
Sore  given  to  revel," 

Walt,    Never  mind  Ilr.  Caleb,  and  the  bard  with  the 

ur„ed.dow„  shirt  collar;  there  is  a  very  different  k^nd  of 

person  .cross  .be  creek   looking  at  us,-who  the  de„:l 

Nob,   Why  that's  the  man  who  den'ed  me  the  right  of  way 


610 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'8    BOOK. 


through  his  field,  along  tho  atill  water  above  the  aaw-mill.  1 
pulled  out  my  segar  case  and  then  my  flAsk  and  oft'erod  liim 
a  drink,  but  he  obstinately  refused,  and  sticking  his  hands  in 
his  breeches  pockets,  all  he  said  was:  "  TVtee  inna7iU  go  through 
that  ryer 


SECOND    NOONIKG 


'  IJ  on  de  groun'  you  chance  to  He, 
You  aoon  find  out  de  blue-tail  fly. 

Ji&uy  crack  corn,  I  don't  care." 


TROUT.FISHm  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

SECOND  NOONING. 

[Present:  Joe,  Walter,  and  Nest      j 

road  to  the  sawmill  "^  t.  ?  """''  ™  """"  *^ 

.ome  salt  and  pe;;!;.        "''  "  ^'""''  "^^^  »"«'-  and 

Xd  o:::~:;:r!::r"--!  -  ^*^ » '^e 

.n  acute  sense  of  srad      ,°  '""^/"""f""'^''  -'-al  that  has 

•be  bushes  or  in  a  hd  ll^  ""    """  P™™^"  ^«'>  »P  - 
hollow  log,  and  stop  up  the  end  seourelyj 

.<."  Expen'se,?,.;:."::--  '"'"'"""'^'"''  "^'""""»' 

fisl.  in  as  carefull/a  t  ev  do  TT  l"  "'  """"'  ""'  '^^  ^^"^ 
»■-  in  the  hottest  ^  n  J  .t  ^ '^''^  '"  "  """ '  -"^^  ^  hole 
-  will  keep  for  a  dessl,  "  ""'  P*'°'^  ^  "="  ^SS' 

JoK  If  jou  have  dined  now.  Nestor  fpll  ,,      i 
in  New  Hampshire.  '         ""^  '^'"'  ^^^^'^g 

Nestor.  I  know  nothing  abonf  a  f 

ence;  all  the  information  ^  7  ^"'""'^  ^^P^"" 

^^  lormation  I  can  give  is  second-band.    I  can 

(513) 


614 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


only  tell  you  what  Brown  told  me  of  the  fishing  at  the  White 
Mountains.  But  here  are  some  leaves  from  an  old  number 
of  the  Knickerbocker,  with  a  description  of  the  adventures 
of  three  very  scientific  anglers  in  Northern  New  Hampshire. 
I  brought  it  along,  intending  to  read  it  in  the  house  or  in 
Uncle  Ickey's  saw-mill,  some  day  when  we  were  weather- 
bound ;  but  it  will  do  as  well  now.  So  take  your  dudeen 
out  of  your  mouth,  and  read  it  yourself." 

[Joe  takes  his  seat  on  a  stump,  and  "ab  alto  ioro  sic  incipit."] 


TROUTING  IN  NORTHERN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

I  HAD  often  heard  of  people  catching  Trout  "  as  fast  as  they  could  haul 
'em  out :"  I  had  often  been  assured  of  the  plausibility  of  such  a  fact,  but 
I  had  my  doubts.  I  knew  I  had  fished  for  Trout,  and  never  "  hauled  'em 
out"  at  all,  and  so  I  was  a  sceptic  as  to  any  such  proceedings  as  enthusi- 
astic anglers  from  the  north  of  the  Granite  State  had  repeatedly  aflSrmed 
to  have  been  within  their  daily  experience.  Taking  all  things  into  con- 
sideration, therefore,  I  determined  to  try  for  myself. 

There  were  three  of  us :  our  baggage  as  follows :  Item,  one  bottle  of 
gin,  two  shirts :  Item,  one  bottle  schnapps,  two  pair  stockings ;  Item,  one 
bottle  Schiedam,  one  pair  fishing-pants :  Item,  one  bottle  genuine  aromatic, 
by  Udolpho  Wolfe,  name  on  the  wrapper,  without  which  the  article  is  fic- 
titious, one  pair  extra  boots:  I^em,  one  bottle  extract  of  juniper-berry ; 
one  bottle  brandy,  long  and  wide,  prescribed  by  scientific  skill  for  medi- 
cinal purposes.  Also,  rods,  flies,  tackle  in  abundance,  and  a  supply  of 
gin ;  in  addition,  each  of  us  had  a  quart-flask  in  our  pockets,  containing 
gin.    We  also  had  some  gin  inside  when  we  started. 

Thus  prepared,  we  started  by  rail  from  where  the  gin  was  purchased, 
for  Littleton,  which  we  reached  in  the  afternoon. 

Littleton  is  a  large  and  flourishing  community,  composed  chiefly  of 
ephemeral  stage  drivers,  black-legs,  and  acute  landlords,  who  play  poker 
'irlth  unsuspecting  travellers  over  night,  to  whom  they  lend  money  in  the 
morning  to  pay  their  tavern-bills.  We  did  not  abide  in  Littleton.  ^\  e 
procured  a  wagon  and  two  horses,  or  rather,  about  one  and  a  half,  and  set 
forth  about  three  p.  h.  As  soon  as  we  reached  the  highway,  and  were 
clear  of  the  surrounding  houses,  I  obtained  my  first  view  of  New  Hamp- 
shire scenety. 


»IKS    PISCATOUI.E. 


615 


Back  of  „s  lay  the  lofty  s«»™its  of  the  White  Mountains-Washington 

among  mankind.     At  th,  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles    their  well 
defined  outlines  rose  against  the  sky  in  solemn,  gloomy  grandeur  and  lir 
.mmen^e  presence  seemed  to  annihilate  the  space  that  fntervened 
J  have  been  in  the  habit  of  thinking  that  my  own  native  West  is  the 

m  r.«,  .„„„er,  wh-n  the  g„lde„  h»ne,.  i.  rip„  f„  1  Su'Ta 

.wayed ,, .,  ,„.„  „,„,, .,,  ,„,  „^  ^„^  ukoi  „ :;  ;t;  :.'; 

w..h  ,h,  „„  t.™i»d  g„d.„,   ,h.  fa™  with  u.  b.,„,  o-r     .,„,,    .  r,.: 
.*  w,.h  .U  „„„H.n.  vi„,  N„„„  p^„^  .„  ,„,.^,,,^  .ight  .tail'* 

S.,11,    „oh  «e„.,j,  „„„,e„  „„  i„p„„i„„  „,  ,^^ 
Sp  h.  ...d«.p,  .,„.ehe,  aw.,  before  ,„„  fo,  „Ue,  „p„„  JjZl 

But  however  beautiful  the  eight,  the  eur,  began  to  set  hot.  and  id™     f 
.e„t,»e„.  rapid,,  „„i.hed,  and  soon  arH.ingl  one!?,      e  e«,  X 

JnrTndlt  V:  '""'""  "■  *"  ''*''™''  "-"  "-«  "'^  »f  P"'^ 
••L,di.t°o..r  '"  ""  '"  "  ""-^  °'  "■"  -P"  »-«-".  of  .he 

After  , on  got  up  i„,„  thi,  country,  you  ,ee  nothing  b„,  porl^    Not  fro.h 

Id,  and  put  away  in  a  barrel.  They  ehieU,  f,^  i,  ,b,n  i,  l^H'. 
Mf  .to  a  c„n.p,.und  of  ,i,uid  grea,.,  and  a  tongb  .nb.t«n.e,  reJhtg 
ndorjione  .ol.l..ther,  nutritive  but  not  attractive.    Ti,ey    ry  p,"    f^" 

—  ''s'°f";'""'/"  ■"°"-  "°^ ""  -"  -^*'~'  >'^l^ 

"upper.  They  fry  ,t  with  their  potatoes;  ,„„etin,e,  they  fry  it  in  a 
.1^1  et,  beiiev,  they  u.o  it  in  their  ,e.  For  two  nrorta,  wee  '  1  h  J 
"..h,n,  bnt  pork,  until  we  got  an.o.g  the  Trout,  and  then  we  had  uZ  anl 


516 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


pork,  and  pork  and  trout,  and  trout  with  or  without  pork,  and  pork  with 
or  without  trout,  according  to  the  taste  and  fancy  of  the  person  porking  or 
trouting,  either  or  both  respectively. 

At  Colebrook,  as  I  said,  we  began  on  pork.  It  was  the  first  I  had  expe- 
rienced, and  I  thought  it  considerably  great.  Subsequent  events,  how- 
ever, succeeded  in  eradicating  that  notion  from  my  bosom. 

Leaving  Colebrook,  we  started  for  the  Dixville  Notch.    We  inquired  the 
state  of  the  route  before  starting,  and  were  informed  that,  "  in  some  places, 
it  wasn't  so  good  as  others,"  which  was  about  the  extent  of  the  informa- 
tion to  be  obtained.  The  people  of  New  Hampshire  are  remarkably  cautious 
in  their  statements,  and  not  at  all  prone  to  exaggeration,  and  when  we 
learned  that  our  route  was  "  in  some  places  a  little  rough,"  we  thought  to 
have  a  comparatively  easy  time  of  it.     But,  shades  and  ministers  of  grace 
defend  us  1  people  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  civilized  life  can  have  no 
'  ^.ea  of  what  roads  are,  or  rather  what  a  road  can  be,  if  it  only  has  a  mind 
to.     In  the  first  place;  it  is  like  going  up  and  down  the  side  of  a  house. 
In  going  down  a  steep  pitch,  a  bottle  was  jolted  out  of  the  rear  of  Ihn 
wagon,  and  fell  over  the  horses'  heads.     That's  a  fact !     I  have  the  affida 
vits.     In  addition,  the  way  is  impeded  by  immense  granite  boulders,  a 
number  of  feet  one  way,,  and  as  many  the  other,  which  seem  to  have  been 
shaken  out  of  a  bag,  with  the  profusion  of  a  pepper-box.     Then,  again, 
there  is  no  road  to  speak  of  at  all,  it  having  been  abandoned,  as  we  after- 
ward learned,  some  ten  years  past ;  the  rain  also  has  washed  out  deep 
gulleys,  where  your  wheels  are  on  each  side,  and  your  horses  down  below, 
underneath  the  wagon.    But  the  crowning  feature  is  the  bridges.    Bridges 
here  are  made  to  let  people  through  into  the  water ;  for  that  purpose  they 
have  large  holes  in  them,  loosely  covered  with  brush-wood,  and  when  the 
unwary  traveller  steps  upon  it,  he  is  seen  no  more ;  and  when  they  can't 
get  holes  big  enough,  they  have  immense  logs  rotted  to  the  proper  point, 
and  when  you  step  upon  them  the  log  caves,  as  it  were,  and  you  then  per- 
ceive the  exact  purpose  for  which  the  structure  was  intended,  as  above 
stated.    We  came  to  one  of  these  bi-'dges,  and  two  of  us,  having  some  idea 
relative  to  personal  safety,  declined  crossing  in  the  wagon,  and  got  out  td 
see  it  go  down,  and  sure  enough,  when  the  near  horse  got  in  the  middle, 
away  went  the  whole  concern,  and  the  animal  went  through  into  the  bot- 
tom of  the  creek. 

It  was  not,  however,  so  deep  but  that,  by  a  judicious  use  of  his  fore-legs, 
he  could  crawl  out  of  the  hole  through  which  he  had  gone  down,  and  he 
came  up  on  terra  firma  a  wet,  and,  to  some  extent,  an  agitated  quadruped. 


CIES    PISCATORI^. 


617 


not' wl7  T  '"'"'^  ''  '"*""'"«  *"  ^'^«  -'"•*--^>  ^-^  -0  ......  ,.aH 

not  witnesse,!  cannot  conceive  how  funny  it  Icx^ks  t.  h«  H  •  ■ 

w,,  .„, ..,  „„ .,,  „„.  ,,.„^„„  f„  :::i:„ri:"r„:;7:; 

power  of  descpinfi'nn .  .*.  •  .  crooKed  -Cjonu  uny 

^vn  c.  rr:L:;;:rr;:7;r::  "rr-''^- 

right  and  lef*  cross  th.  .«•  n.  7  ^     '  ^  "*'''*'  '^'^^''^'l '  then 

rod.  off.     w,  reached  the  ,,.J  t,„Zul[ '   '""  '  """  ""'■'  "'™'J' 
and  it  wa.  .bout  a„  eighth  of  .  J"T^'  .       .  "'""'''  "  '"'W""' 

".e  me.  to  the  <.oJ    wl^TZlT  T    ""  ■"""  ""  "  """''■ 
Northern  New  Ifampahire  "^^  ^  "'°°°"  °'  '°"°""i"°  '" 

- -«er.rr;Tz::iTra:;ro;rrr^ 

«tep,  and  in  you  go :  this  is  invariable  '       ^''^'  ^^^ 

^.fnr;,r::-rj,rcc:::n-^^^^^^ 
-:rrrz::dn:;^"-^--■--^^^^^^^^^^ 

ro-r  dearen.  ,„„f  and  yT^^  ^^T^'Z  T""  ""  '""^  '" 
w..    a^enera,  ..    e  ofda.np,  to  hear, our  rL:,  l^,  ,  :!:;r"  ^« 

--.^oarteJtrT^r:;::;;:;::!;"  •"  r-"- 

I«a.ed  that  the,  had  pork  i„  thi.  conn trT    W.  t^     """■■  '  ■"""" 
mther  to  „„«,„;,„„.  •  conntrj.    W.  thea  „eM  to  bed,  or 

fonned  th.!  feat  .ithaki,*  *=  '  ""' '"  '''  "•  «»"""'''  "«™  per. 


518 


AMERICAN    AN'GLER'S    IJOOK 


Having  prepared  ntirselvp-.  for  repose,  out  went  the  tunrlii',  and  in  cauie 

the  musquitdos.     N had  brought  with  him  a  con*  rctiot.  prepared  by 

some  medical  friend,  which  was  to  keep  off  these  ir  vkuous  'usecif.  It 
smelt  strcagly  of  spearmint  and  andean  oil.  It  worke!.  however,  like  n 
miracle,  for  the  musquiM.ics  would  light  on  our  iaces,  and  their  feet  would 
stick  fasit  in  the  stuff— it  i.aiJ  an  extract  .i?"  tar  in  it  for  that  purpose— nud 
by  the  time  a  small  troop  wore  thus  entrapped,  then  you  had  music    Anuu 

you  would  hear  II give  a  rousing  ciip,  a.  d  wifh  ai'  expletive  stnto; 

"There!  1  misMd  him!"     So   we  rolled  and    tossed,  till   fiuali,)    ^' . 

burst.  !Hst  laughing,  wanting  to  know  if  I  was  awake. 

fc'ioep  bei'ig  impossible,  we  lit  our  pipes,  and  sat  up  in  bed  t((  take  a 
smoke.  Jok  ;;>  were  ciackod,  stories  were  told,  and  we  nmde  niglit,  up  in 
that  r(i^<\<'  'imparatively  hideous.  Next  mornin";  we  learned  that  tiiore 
was  a  »i.k  li:by  down  stairs,  and  the  supposition  iit  the  family  was,  that 
our  noise  hadn't  helped  its  colic  any. 

That  bouse  will  not  soon  fade  from  our  memory.  iVe  slept  in  an  attic, 
where  tiie  roof  slanted  dowa  over  the  heads  of  the  bec.s,  av  that  it  was  not 
ten  inches  above  the  pillow ;  the  roof  was  innocent  of  lath,  plaster,  or  any 
of  those  little  amenities  that  tend  to  make  existence  endurable.  Rustic 
ingenuity,  upon  the  rafters  over-head,  had  pinned,  in  the  charaiiter  of 
wall-paper,  certain  emanations  of  the  press,  among  which  were  the 
Christian  Herald,  Boston  Post,  and  New  Hampshire  Patriot. 

The  strong  point  of  this  contrivance  was,  that  ail  manner  of  bugs 
spiders,  and  other  creeping  things,  seemed  to  assemble  in  convention  iu 
the  silent  watches  of  the  night,  and  essayed  the  climbing  of  these  papers, 
which  being  rather  much  inclined,  rendered  the  task  of  the  insects  diffi- 
cult ;  but  perseverance  seemed  to  be  a  predominant  trait,  for  all  night  long 
we  heard  these  reptiles  scratching,  scraping,  and  rustling  up  and  down  the 
pnpe;,  at  the  agreeable  distance  of  about  a  foot  from  our  heads.  Occa- 
bionally  a  spider,  more  adventurous  than  the  rest,  would  drop  down  by 
his  web,  and  alight  on  our  faces,  but  he  generally  beat  a  precipitate 
retreat.  Then,  too,  there  was  a  death-watch  near  the  head-lioard,  and  lie 
kept  up  his  dismal  ticking  as  long  as  we  were  conscioi'K,  This  death-watch 
is  an  abominable  nuisar  je.  Its  regular,  monotone  .,  unceasing  lioat. 
heard  in  fearH'!  proximity  about  eleven  o'ch  <  k  at  ni;;ht,  when  everybodv 
else  is  a«ieep,  i.s  .Plough  to  drive  a  nervous  ?:i !.;  iiuzy.  I  would  ratiier 
have  six-pounders  fired  off  at  mo  all  night. 

However,  morning  at  last  came,  and  we  oonsulti'J  os  to  what  course 
should  be  taken,  whether  to  turn  .homeward  and  fisi;  o.'    lur  wav  back,  or 


DIES    PISv^ATOKIJ:. 


519 


we  More  to  walk  over  a  "  carry  "  stat.,!  f . ,    "'J'"'''''""-    ^r^m  th.s  place 
but  which  wan  nearer  six      S  "'  '  "'''  '^"^  '^  ^""'  ''-«• 

."i^e  Carrie,  all  Tclp  0^:;"-^  Jj  7  r  ""^-     '^ 
'»'«  Ki»  in  it;  the  carnet  l.n!      T"        *"  hslung-basket  with 

--  wet  matches,  and  an  over-eon      th  7  '    .  "  ^''^  """^'•^- 

articles  as  ren^ained  piled  „n  '^  "'  ^""'^^^  ""''^  ^"^'^ 

Th.-.  r     ^  ""  "^  promiscuous  manner. 

Th.8  was  my  first  experience  in  "  carrying  "  H.« 
sort  of  business,  and  I  must  be  allowed'l  ^  '"""  ""'  '"  '''' 
tion,  I  do  not  admire  this  species  of  To  '  "  '  ^'"'"""^  P^'^P^^'' 

eon^fort.     The  day  was  ho    "7      ,"°"''""  '''''''  ^  P"-^  «f  «Peed  or 
uuy  was  not,  and  such  a  road  '  pvo  hn*k  «  ,. 

;«  l..»d,  „.,..„  h„.t  ,t  .„,e,ed  i„t„  JLTo  l;  '  T'  •"  """■ 
It  w««  up  bill  and  down  •  th,„„  i.  i  '     ™  "  conceive. 

»c.„„.:in«in.p.n : ,;  s,':''x:"'''  '™f  ^  <-f»"- .-., 

Itaunh  the  wood,  a,  iholr  »"8»"-I>»"'  h«l  fomerl,  been  cut 

« "«.e  .«.«>..  ...CX  b^^::;::;;;;--  *« :"" ""'  "«'■ 

kind  of  vehicle;  if  such  a  L;  '       "°°"''«t'"»  ^it^  some 

"--at  the  .mpli^J^r    ,;iir  — '-.  -.can  only  be 
immense  rocks  that  were  smooth       IV  ^'''^  ''"'  '""^"'^'^  ^^''^ 

put  .our  foot  on  them  din  ;  Ve^n    I  77  ^''  '''''''  "'  '^'^  ^- 
quitoes  had  you  ;  for  though  when   n  'n.dln   !"•  '"  "'"  '"""'  ''''  "^^ 

■cuei  f  b,„  J  :;r :  z:"  'r\r '""  -  °°'  -^  ■™"'  - 

it»ir.    I  .topped  on  tl,«  point  „f  ,    ,  "^  "''"'°"  *»  ««'«  life 

p»* .-  ..r..po»d :;;;,:  tit:„:™,;rT""'''^™''' 

-l™.»led  „„,„„  b.,1  .pent  .,,  be.  .n.Z    I  !    M         ""'  '"'"'"''l'^ 
'-<^-  .l.on,„,,„it«,  „.,.„.j  „„  in    e^Z    tb°      b"'"  ""^  ""'"'  "" 

" "■«  «-  P«"'cd  down  hi,  .eientf ,";       TbV'""""'-'  '"  "" 

' •  »""•  n,e,„„r3-n„e.„,eio„.„  re       LI  t  '.     d""'     ^  "°"  """ 

"-  about  beginnin,,  „  n„„  ,  ..^  J^''^    °  *'  "*'  »'  "hildbood.  I 

•I'-l  .«l«imi„«,  at  the  top  „f  bf,"!    lajb    "        ""  "—  "" 
-n,e  and  impregnable  ..rc„g,b_  ""  ™"—"«"  -f  ta- 


520 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


"  Tboro  is  a  pluaNure  in  the  pathlesa  wood." 

It  would  have  afforded  me  satisfaction,  there  and  then,  to  have  ItnoekeJ 
his  head  off. 

Wo  accomplished  the  end,  nevertheless,  and  reached  the  liank  of  tiie 
Megalloway  just  above  the  falls,  to  avoid  which  we  had  passed  tlie  "  carry." 
We  found  here  a  little  flat-bottomed  boat,  about  fourteen  feet  long,  and 
amply  sufficient  to  carry  a  pound  of  butter  and  a  dozen  oggs,  and  wheu 
the  guide  told  us  that  we  were  all  to  go  in  that  cockle-shell,  I  |)roceedod 
to  narrate  to  him  a  legend  relating  to  three  individuals  of  ago  and  experi- 
ence, who  are  reported  to  have  dwelt  in  the  State  of  Now  York,  and  who 
set  forth  upon  a  certain  journey  by  v.'ater,  in  a  class  of  sailing-crnft  not 
popularly  in  vogue  among  mariners,  and  with  regard  to  whom  it  is  confi- 
dently asserted  that  if  their  means  of  conveyance  had  been  of  n  more 
permanent  character,  their  traditionary  reminiscences  would  huv('  been 
prolonged. 

Our  guide,  however,  assured  us  that  the  week  before  the  same  frail  I  ark 
had  brought  down  four  men  witii  a  moose  they  had  killed  ;  and  somewhat 
reassured,  but  still  with  fear  and  trembling,  we  loaded  our  luggage.  The 
vessel  sank  in  the  water  to  within  three  inches  of  her  gunwale,  and  we 
had  to  keep  the  trim  so  nicely  adjusted  that  if  you  winked  one  eye  with- 
out the  other,  you  were  in  imminent  danger  of  upsetting. 

Once  fairly  started,  thoughts  of  danger  vanished,  and  our  little  boat 
glanced  over  the  water  at  a  refreshing  rate. 

The  river  was  perfectly  still,  with  no  current,  and  its  smooth  surface 
only  broken  by  the  leap  of  the  Trout,  and  the  splashing  start  of  the  fright- 
ened wild-duok.  High  mountains  arose  on  either  side,  and  the  river-banks 
were  lined  with  scrubby  pine  and  birch,  whoso  interlaced  boughs  ren- 
dered passage  impervious  except  to  the  denizens  of  the  forest.    , 

Our  point  of  destination  was  a  place  called  Beaver  Brook,  some  two 
miles  up  the  stream,  where  it  was  supposed  that  Trout  would  bo  found. 
We  reached  there  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  tlie  sport  then 
began  in  earnest.  In  my  time  I  have  fished,  as  it  may  be,  (ionsidonible. 
1  have  fished  for  varicms  specimens  of  the  finny  tribe ;  I  ha/c  essayed  Cud 
in  Boston  Harbor,  and  Herring  and  Mackerel  on  the  sea-coast;  I  iiave 
whipped  almost  every  stream  for  Trout  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut; 
I  have  taken  Salmon  in  the  Ohio,  Trout  in  Mackinaw  and  Minnesota,  Perch 
in  the  Mississippi,  and  bobbed  for  Whale  on  the  coasts  of  Florida,  but  I 
bad  not  reached  the  acme  of  fishing.     As  before  stated,  I  had  heard  all 


»IES    PISCATORI^. 


521 


delicate  fi.„  U     ti,„,T;„u  L'r.' '"'  "  i'""'  '"  """  ' '"^'  "« 

,.„,  ,.     ""^""^^         "  P"'''' "* 'i""  a  bait  as  big  as  your  fist  aii.l 

.  II  tu™  „p  „,.  „„..  i„  ,i,^„.. ,  „„..„,.  ^„^^^  ^,^_^  pole,  of ,/„  ";1 

i..v.n...  ,w„  ,„,..  .,„/,„„.  i:. ,;:  -  r,;,;L::;::r. :: 

■f  you  c„t  down-rt,-,„„,,  i„  u,„  fi„,    I         .^  ;"■" .  ""<i 

l.r«w  „p^..™.m  ,l,,v  bit,  fa,.er,  and  you  h„e  a  better  chanc   „ft  LL 

or  barb  through  their  gill..    There  -  y„„r  Hy  t„„eh„  the  water    .tte 

felW,  ju„p  at  ,t;  but  tl,„,e  are  little  fellow.,  .„d  don't  ™gh  C  hi 

a  quarter  of  a  pound.    Follow  i\        •.  .         .•  "-'Su  more  than 

on  the  bank-  ■•  Small  T^  '"BS^fon.  and  put  up  „  „„tice 

■-  oanit .     ainaii  r„ut  are  requested  not  to  bite  "■ 

Now  heave  again.    See  there  l-that  wa.  a  pretty  Jump  h.  made ;  b„. 


622 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'"    BOOK. 


hu  missod.  Tiy  Li;,*  oik,,;  um-o  and  you'll  »trike.  Now  he's  on  ;  let  your 
reel  run  :  i.jre  h,-  ^ua  up-Rtroiini.  How  nicely  he  springs  out  of  tUc 
water  I  lio'i  got  frightened,  and  don't  know  what's  tlio  rumpu.s.  Reel  liiui 
in  a  littlo ,  don't  pull  too  hard,  or  you'll  break  your  pole  ;  y<,\i  4ee,  it's 
bent  douUo  already.  Just  hold  him  tight  enough  to  guide  him,  and  ho'll 
tiro  himj«ell' out  in  a  few  ininutCH;  ho  n-yv'i  -^tand  li  long,  daNhing  aijout  at 
thii^  rate.  Don't  get  too  mud,  excited,  or  he'll  fool  you  yet.  When  yon 
Strike  a  fish  you  must  be  cool  and  collected.  You  see  they  are  of  an  ex- 
citable temperament,  and  when  they  get  the  barb  into  their  mouths  tiiey 
become  agitated  ;  they  are  also  gamy,  and  make  a  good  fight,  and  conse- 
quently, if  you  are  anywise  rash,  and  attempt  to  get  them  in  t(«)  8(K)h,  ten 
to  one  you'll  break  your  line.  Now  you  see  the  rascal  has  started  down- 
stream for  the  river,  and  thinks  if  he  gets  into  deep  water  h.-'ll  be  out  of 
the  way.  Let  him  slide ;  let  your  reel  go  out  its  full  bngth.  Now  he's 
still ;  he  don't  feel  you  pull,  and  thinks  he's  safe.  Begin  and  reel  him  up. 
Now  he's  waked  up  again  worse  than  ever.  Don't  be  g:)  pretty?  Just 
hold  him  steady  up  the  stream,  and  as  his  mouth  is  wide  open.  !m  'H  drown 
soon  ;  because,  if  you  drown  a  Trout  ho  thereby  becomes  dead,  and  when 
dead,  is  in  a  perfectly  passive  state.  See,  his  struggles  are  becominL' 
feebler  and  feebler;  you'll  have  him  soon.  Be  patient:  now  he's  sta 
put  him  up  to  the  side  of  the  boat,  and  take  hoM  of  him  just  behind  the 
gills.  There,  isn't  he  a  beauty?  Don't  tho>  I^ht  spots  nd  silver 
stripes  go  to  your  heart'  D.ai't  you  wish  you  were  as  good-looking  as  a 
Trout?     Wouldn't  you  captivate  ;    ur  friends? 

The  shade;  '  f  eve  begin  to  fal'      (  sit  in  the  foot;  N a  little  below; 

H above.     If,  is  still  as  niglit,  except  the  repeated  sjilash  of  fish  na 

they  rise  at  the  fly,  or  as  they  struggle  in  vain  attempts  to  escape. 

I  have  at  varif./s  Mnes,  in  varioii  places,  mad  various  statements  with 
regard  to  our  succtss  upon  that  particular  afternoon,  none  of  which  luive 
as  yet  been  believed.  Friends,  of  whom  I  had  a  right  to  expect  bit- or 
things,  have  upon  occasiims  winked  knowingly  when  I  have  r  irraled  i 
experience ;  some  have  laug!  •  ou'  nt;  some  have  uiuked  unreserv- 
edly that  that  was  a  "fish  !•■  .."  'lert-  have  detee-  1  seeming  i  .m- 
sistencies,  and  irreverently  asked  for  e  planations;  aie  Tain  it  has  been 
inquired  which  was  the  trout,  and  which  was  the  gin.  I  therefore  will 
content  myself  with  the  follow  ing  statement,  made  upon  honor,  that  in  a 
very  short  time  we  caught  a  very  large  number  of  fish. 

While  we  were  fishing,  our  guide  was  pitching  our  tent.     Our  guide 
was  a  great  institution ;  he  was  a  complete  backwoodsman.    W^ith  an  axe 


1>IES    PJSCATOIU^. 


528 


--"  -'h  that  axo.     „e  Ja  o,.^  Z^„  /''^'"""  '"  ^""'"'  '""^'^  « 
"•-  l.oM  fi„.|  ,  ,„„,  „,  ,^  'V'"7  "  *■•««  '"  no  tune,  u,,,]  i„  t|.o 

-ey ;  whereupon   ho'„  h  ""'7'\-^  «  -"<"«  hive  fu„  .,  ..nd 

Htron«th  M-aB  enormouH  and  hi«  n"  "^''  "'^  ""''''"  '''•''"••^'  ^in 

"»  'Jay  without  stopp    •;     ,    : ",'  "T"'  "'"-""'•     "«  -•<!  -w  a  ...t 

«  week  with  a  paok  o  hU  h  .  7.  1  ""'  "'"  "^"'''  '^"''  "-"'"'-  '■'•- 
He'd  he  in  the'.a  r  rt;;, tT  '  '""T'  ""  "'"  ^  "^'^  ^'^  "-- 
n.ode«t,  good-natured.  1^^:,^T  T  \  !"—--•  "«  wa« 
tickled  to  hear  ««  talk  and  M  L  I  I  l?"'"'  """  ^"^  "-'-^'-^ 
In  the  few  dap  he  wa.  with         ,  '"'"'""  '"'"'^''r'""^  »"  g-- 

a'>iy  against  a  head-wind  for  .eve,fn.ilZ  '  '"  """'  "•"'^'*- 

Ho  waH  fond  of  woods  snorf     \vi  i     , 

•-.' .-..  -ix  inch..  ,„4. .  t  wi,r.  hI   :  r™"  "^ "'-'  ■"  "■• 

™.d  ..  „.,„l.  prep,.,,,.,,,.  ,„  'SZZ      .  "  '"'«"  ''«  "■•'• 

-.  b. .  boa, ::, : J  ,7;°:'''' » ^ -"^  ■"«" -"  p",..™,  ,„„ 
..-.. .  .o ...  ...„.  .1,  „^  ^  :■  r,v:^z72'  r  -"  r^'^ 

Hoaked,  but  that  nmde  no  diflbr,      o)  and  fh  ,   .  '   '  ^'^^ 

the  Trout  with  a  wooden  spo.    ,       pu    JuT:'  '"''''  ^  ^'  ' 

h'-d:  once  in  a  while  one  woui.  dr!,    nT         «  "'  ""  '''^  ''""* 

watHung.  and  vou  were  .uiok     ou  "' '"'  ''  '"  '^'^  ^'-"'* 

«.ht  over  one  ,eat  ^:2  C.:    J^'lr'""    f  "^  '  -^  ^  "'^ 

h-ad  an.  tho  do,  ,ot  hi.,.  '     U„       -l^u    '''  ^'^  ^  ^  «"' '""'  ''^  ^he 

P"ll  Jevil :  fh..       .,  „  lit,.       ,      ,  ;•    ^  '*  ""^^  "'P  ""<'  tn'^k.  pull  Di.k 
^'  a  litthi  aliead,  for  the  f,  i,„       ^ 

-or'n  half;  h,     ,.«  «m,sequo  :,  ohoked  o^th  •  ,        ^  '"      "'  ""'  ''  «"* 

-ioieed.     We  rang  the  belt  f,  S^^          7             "  "'  """'  ^  "'^^ 

' Toh-bark,  and  stuck  them  u,  "  i       '.                       """"  *"'"*'he8  of 

quet-hall.                                 ^  ""^'  ''"^  ^«  ''^^  ««  illuminated  ban- 


illlii 

toSt^RblP  i* 

Wm 

524 


AMERICAN    ANULER'H    UOOK, 


lw\ 


a  forkod  stick,  niul  then  and  there  wo  fed.  Wo  then  cleared  away  the 
tablo  and  wiwhed  the  dixhes,  by  throwing  tiio  birch-burk  into  tiie  tiro  iind 
leaving  the  Hkill'-'     >  the  dof(. 

Wo  then  held  u  oouncil  of  war,  and  eoneliKled  to  crosii-examlne  a  >)ottle 
of  gin.  Gin  hoH  itM  unoh  in  tho  Wdodt*.  But  wo  were  without  waici-,  ami 
had  nothing  but  those  leathern  drinkin>?-cuitM,  holding  about  a  gill.  Hen, 
Wfts  a  difficulty  at  once,  for  to  be  under  the  neeenMity  of  going  down  to  the 
strcttm  every  time  you  wanted  a  drink,  was  not  to  be  thought  of;  benide 
we  might  be  thirHty  in  tho  night.  But  our  guide  solved  the  problem.  He 
took  that  immortal  axo  and  went  off  into  tho  woodn,  and  came  buck  in  a 
minuic  with  hohjo  large  sheets  of  birch-bark — birch-lmrk  is  also  n  wonder- 
ful invention  ;  so  he  sat  down  to  inuke  a  birch-bark  bucket.    I  don't  know 

how  it's  done ;  N docs,  and  he  showed  mo  two  or  three  times ;  but  for 

the  life  of  mo,  I  coulihi't  see  through  it.  About  these  things  I'm  thick 
about  the  head  It  is  somehow  thus:  You  take  a  large  sijuare  sheet  of 
birch-bark  mil  some  wmxlen  pins,  you  turn  up  one  end  of  tho  bark  and 
stick  in  a  pin,  you  then  turn  up  the  side  and  fasten  it  to  the  end ;  you 
double  the  ends  together  and  fasten  them  with  these  pins ;  turn  it  up  nil 
around,  so  the  water  won't  run  out,  fasten  it,  and  there's  your  bucket ;  it 
is  a  very  simple  contrivance,  and  eminently  practical.  He  got  -no  com- 
pleted, and  found  a  knot-hole  in  the  bottom,  but  finally  made  one  timt 
held  alx)ut  three  quarts ;  so  we  filled  it,  placed  it  beside  the  tent,  and 
begon  those  experiments  with  tho  gin,  to  which  brief  allusion  has  been 
made. 

After  eating  and  drinking  wo  lit  our  pipes.  You  take  pipes  and  tobacco 
in  this  country  altogether;  segars  are  perfectly  useless.  I  cnrri(;d  the 
tobacco  loose  in  one  of  my  pockets,  which  was  a  reservoir  for  the  whole 
party.  One  has  no  idea  of  the  luxury  of  a  pipe  in  the  woods  until  it  has 
been  tried  ;  it  is  vastly  superior  to  any  other  known  method  of  combusting 
the  weed.  You  might  smoke  forty  segars  and  not  obtain  the  same  amount 
of  satisfaction  that  a  solitary  pipe  affords.  Therefore  we  sat  in  the  door 
if  the  tent,  and  as  the  smoke  curled  gracefully  away  we  had  sumliy  ope- 
ratic performances,  in  which  I  acted  the  part  of  Prima,  and  N of  base, 

Donna;  and  the  woods  rang  with  the  entrancing  melody  of  our  voices; 
while  afar  off  we  heard  the  hoot  of  the  owl,  and  once  in  awhile  the  scream 
of  a  wild-cat;  but  we  were  not  at  all  alarmed. 

I  should  not  omit  to  relate  one  of  my  troubles,  and  that  was  in  the  waj 
of  lKX)tH.  A  kind  friend  at  Hanover  lent  ni  i  fine  pair  of  fishing-iioots, 
that  came  almost  up  to  my  ears,  and  had  great  big  legs  to  them.    I  thst 


PIKS    PISCATORI*. 


626 


fl«hcd  with  thorn  in  the  Dia,n.„„l  Riv«r      r       i 

k rail :::;;:",:;''"« ":  t"™'-  ■  '"■"  '"■ 

..f  .^.  d»,  w,„  .ho  r,«i„;  „,  :,r„r  r°  •;"•  '"•  «"••  --•'»- 
-«™-.-.. .  -:i;t.:  irr::,,i::f  r '-  -  "r- '-•^' 

on  the  fl.H.r,  N „-„uI..  f..t        , ,    ,    '  "'  ">"  r'""""'t  ''"^     I  lay  .lown 

-^  -  '"3-  ..t.  a:r :  I  'i^r  2  t-rr "  ^-'^  -""  "- 

or  rather  feet.  i„  about  an  halfh"  l'  "'  "'"'•""''■^''  ^''^  '•^"^'• 

.hoen.  ''""'•     ^^*""'  ^''«»  fi''''i"g  for  Tn.ut,  wear 

BootH  off.  and  otherwise  honi^v  we  lav  i„  ,u    * 
F''".V<"1  <'ur.eIveH  in  the  ..harm«  J'o  ^  "'"  """''"''  '""'  •""- 

into  the  wood.,  ...e  It  „r  Id  "T'""    ^"  '''"'  '"'  «"-  "'^ 

a.^  -"«..  t..e  world  w:":. t  Za^  7  W  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^ 

and  Haw.  off  in  the  forest,  a  large  tre   a,I  on  fi    T   "         "'  "'  *'"  '°"*' 
«tone.     It  flashed   and  hL.T       7  *^™'"  *""^*  *°  f'.undation- 

to  the  water  for  .afet,.  hnt  wa«  restr^X  ;—  wh  ^";""  ''''"^' 
"^  the  «„ide.  work,  which  it  proved  to  be      B^;:  '  ""  "  """  ^"""^ 

«"-.o„to„eh:;:;rr:;^rrrrb;::7r"^-^= 

-od.  ever,k.;  :;  II  ,,Tt  T  ^^'^^  ''-''  ""^  *^-  *»>«  tree 
lik«  -lay.  The  wild  birZ  a;to  ,  '  .  "''  ''"'  '■^'*'"^  "P  ^'^^  ^«-t 
'leer  and  other  JJ^^l    ^T  ^  '"^*^'  '^'"^  ^^'^--•^elter ; 

"■to.otheritwa.pl  .r;:::::;"^^:  '^^"'^"--^  ^""^"^'""'  -^^ 

""«'  -  half  a  dLn.  in  all  t,      ^^^^  ^^  *»>-  another, 

spectacle  was  beautiful.    Our  .ui  '  ,    '  "'^^  '^''"^  '^°^'«^«'  ^^e 

■'"«  round  in  his  stocking  fe     '  ""''"""  '^"^'^-•^*'  '^'^^  ^-"  P-wI- 

The  ne.t  doming  w  '  l^we";  ^  2       ^'T  '''■ 

tent;  in  fact  we  became  neT.  1  '"  "'  ''^'"'  '*^ ''"^  ^--*«'  «- 

f-t.  and  we  caughtrranr        '      !         "'  "'''''''''•     '''^^y  »>'»  - 

boat  ahnost  m     ^^^^    7       '  ""  "'^'  ^''^  **•     ^«  «"«^  «- 

Anytlung  less  than  a  half  pound  in  weight  we  threw 


526 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


back  into  the  water ;  and  after  we  all  got  sick  of  it,  we  agreed  to  take 
down  our  poles  and  not  put  thorn  up  again  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
About  eighty  pounds  of  the  largest  we  concluded  to  take  home  with  us ; 
so  our  guide  made  a  species  of  box  out  of  elm-bark,  in  which  we  salted 
down  our  fish,  to  pack  on  our  backs. 

I  have  thus  given  an  outline  of  one  day's  occurrences,  and  the  others 
were  like  unto  it.  We  had  just  as  much  Trout-fishing  as  we  wanted.  We 
eat  so  many  that  we  almost  killed  ourselves ;  and  finally  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  Trout  were  not  what  they  were  cracked  up  to  be,  after  all. 

Job.   Well,  what  do  you  think  of  it? 
N'es.   Why,  I  think  of  the  author,  that  from  his  frequent 
was 


allusions  to  pork. 


from  Cincinnati.     His  description  of 


bridges  reminds  me  of  a  ride  from  Hankins's  Station  to  Ches- 
ter Darby's  with  Baron  G.,  twelve  years  ago,  when  we  were 
caught  in  a  thunderstorm,  and  did  not  get  to  Chester's  until 
midnight ;  we  crossed  a  few  horse-traps  of  the  kind  he 
describes  in  the  dark.  The  spiders,  bugs,  and  death-watch 
refresh  my  recollections  of  old  friend  Snell,  on  the  Loyal- 
sock. 

Job.  He  is  right  about  the  pipes  and  the  skillet,  but  may 
possibly  be  wrong  as  to  the  guide's  ability  to  produce  a 
chronometer  with  h'is  axe.  As  to  drawing  off  wading-boots, 
T  have  had  some  experience  in  the  matter  myself,  and  can 
testify  as  to  the  course  the  water  takes  when  a  man  lies  on 
his  back  and  elevates  his  heels.  His  instructions,  though,  in 
casting  and  killing  a  Trout,  are  inimitable ;  all  who  would 
be  scientific  anglers  ought  to  read  them.  Here  are  more 
stray  leaves  from  the  Knickerbocker — poetry,  too:  "The 
Skeleton  Monk,"  six  pages ;  and  "  The  Girl  with  the  Calico 
Dress." 

Walt.   Keep  them  to  read  in  the  saw-mill  some  rainy  day. 

[wEriV  Wamer,  with  ahti-.h-honk.] 

Joe.    But   hold  on;    here  is  "Hans  Breitmann's  Barty:" 


Hans  Bieitn; 

mit  a  Merican  ; 

proun  as  a  preti 

into  mine,  dey  t 

Ilans  Breitm 

mit  der  Madilda 

freilein  in  the  hi 

Hans  Breitma 

in  more  as  seven 

de  shpicket  in,  d 

nefei  coom  to  a  1 

Hans  Breituiai 

sooper  come  in,  c 

Brot  and  Gensj 

Abendessen  dowi 

Hans  Breitmai 

niout  to  a  parrel  i 

I  kissed  Madilda 

fought  mit  taple  1 

Hans  Breitmar 

lofely  golton  elouc 

melstralilendo  .ster 

Lager  Biei— afay 

Joe.   Theed 
here  is  very  str 

Nes.    There 
verse  that  reniii 


DIES   PISCATORI^. 


627 


it  is  poetry  done  up  prose  fashion.     Clark  suspe.ts  Mace 
bloper  ot  having  perpetrated  it. 

Nes.  Let  us  have  it,  by  all  means.  Vive  le  lager!  Vive 
ie  pretzel  I    Vive  le  Engel  &  Wolf  I 

Joe.  Well,  then,  be  quiet,  while  I  read  you  the  adventure 
and  impressions  made  on  the  mind  of  the  gentleman  who 
attended 

HANS    BRBITMANN'S    BARTY. 

Hans  Breltmann  gife  a  barty-de,  had  biano  blayln-I  felled  in  lofe 
.n,taMen.an  frau.     Her    na.ne  was  Madilda  Yane      She  hat  h  ar  a 
proun  as  a  pret.el  bun  ;  do  eyes  .ere  hin,.el  blue  ;  and  ven  she  look 
into  mine,  dey  shplit  mine  heart  in  two. 

Hans  Breitmann  gife  a  barty:  I  vent  dar  you'll  pe  pound.  I  valzet 
nut  der  Ma  ilda  Yane-und  vent  shpinnen  round  und'round.  De  oo^I 
freilein  in  the  house-she  vayed  pout  doo  hoondert  pound 

Hans  Breitmann  gife  a  barty-I  dells  you,  it  cost  him  dear.     Dey  rollt 
■n  more  as  seven  kecks  of  foost  rate  Lager  Bicr-und  venefer  dey  knock 
de  shpicket  in.  de  Deutschers  gifes  a  cheer.     I  dinka  dat  so  vine  a  bar  y 
nefei  coom  to  a  het  dis  year.  ^ 

Hans  Breitmann  gife  a  barty.    Dar  all  vas  souse  and  brouse.     Ven  de 
-per  come  in,  de  gompany  did  make  demselves  de  house.     Dey  at    da 
Brot  und  Gensybroost.  die  Bratwoors.  and  Braten  fine,  and  ^h  da! 
Aoendessen  down  mit  four  parrels  of  Neckarwein 

Hans  Breitmann  gife  a  barty:  ve  all  got  troonk  as  pigs:  I  poot  m'ine 

kissed  Mad. Ida  Yane,  und  she  schlap  me  on  de  kop,  und  de  goompany 
fought  mit  taple  locks  dill  de  coonstaple  made  o„s  sclitop  ^ 

Hans  Breitmann  gife  a  barty:  vhere  is  dat  barty  now?  Vhere  is  de 
lofely  o.  ton  cloudt  dat  float  on  der  m.undain'.  prow  ?  Vhere  is  de  him- 
melstn^  endo  .tern-de  schtar  of  de  spirit.  ,ig,.t-all  goned  afay  mit  de 
LuRor  B.oi-afay  in  der  Evigkeit.  ^ 

Joe.  The  editor's  comment  is,  that  the  "  internal  evidence" 
here  IS  very  strong. 

Nes  There  is  a  touch  of  sublime  mela.JchoiHn  the  last 
verse  that  reminds  me  of  Jack  Reeves,  in  the  character  of  a 


528 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


sentimental  old  cook  reading  the  "  Sorrows  of  Werter,"  and 
skinning  eels,  I  have  some  impression  of  the  meanino-  of 
"  Evigkeit,"  from  the  connection  in  which  it  is  used.  What 
is  the  true  translation  ? 

Job.  I  admired  the  effusion  so  much  at  the  time  it  ap- 
peared, that  I  read  it  once  to  a  German  friend,  who  fu]Iy 
appreciated  it,  and  laughing,  explained  the  word  you  refer 
to,  by  saying,  "  de  schtar  of  de  spirit's  light,"  and  de  lager 
all  went  away  together  into  de  everlasting,  de  futurity.— But 
what  is  Walter  doing ! 

Nes.  Just  what  Benjamin  West  did  when  he  caught  the 
man  stealing  his  father's  pears — taking  the  rogue's  picture. 


The  Thief  that  stoijE  our  Djnnsr. 


THIRD    NOOMNft. 

TBOUT.FISHING  IN  THE  JtEGIONS  OP 
LAKE  SUPEBIOK. 


34 


"  Can  it  bo  the  sun  descending 
O'er  the  level  plain  of  wHter? 
Or  the  Ted  Swan  floating,  flying, 
Woniide<l  by  :li«  magic  arrow, 
Staining  all  the  waveH  with  crimson, 
With  the  crimson  of  its  life-blood, 
filling  all  the  air  with  Bplcndor 
Mich  the  sp'endor  of  its  i>lui)inge' 

"  Yoe:  it  is  th(^  sun  descending, 
!  inking  down  into  tlio  wa'er  ■ 
All  the  Kky  in  stained  with  pnri)lB, 
All  the  water  flnslicd  with  criMison! 
No;  it  is  the  l>d  i-wan  floating. 
Diving  down  beneath  the  Water; 
To  the  sky  its  wings  nre  lifte<i. 
Witli  its  blood  tlie  waves  are  reddened  1 
Over  It  the  Star  of  Kveniiig 
Melts  and  trenilileg  in  the  i)nrple, 
Hangs  suspende-t  in  the  twilight. 
No'  it  13  a  lieiid  of  wanipHni, 
On  the  rolies  of  the  fireat  Spirit, 
As  he  pusses  throngh  the  twilight, 
WalliH  in  eilence  throui^h  tlie  heavens  I" 

LONCFlltOW. 


TEOUT.FISHING  IN  THE  EEGIONS  OF  LAKB 
^      SUPERIOB. 

THIRD   NOONIXO. 
(After  .h,R„..._p„„„.,  ^.„,^^  ^^^^^^  ^__^  ^^^^^ 

NOBMA.,.  You  say,  Nestor,  that  you  have  been  to  T«v 
Supenor,  and  that  there  is  fine  Ashing  there 

^t.  Mary  which  IS  at  the  -Sault,"  the  outlet  of  the  lake 

^-eral  of  my  friends  have  visited  Lake  Superior  dneeX 

™rt.    Boats  leave  BuiJalo  and  Detroit  every  week  during  T 
™n,er  for  the  towns  that  have  sprung  „pL  lak    S      H 
amce  the  eopper  region  has  been  opened,  and  from  wht?  T 

:::^;r:nr::rr^^"'"""-'--^^^^^^ 

-  of  .une  for  th:l       J^^^^^^^^^  '^« 

friend  Eoberts  after  his  return   1 1  '         """'  '"^ 

■.;.;^.»r;.the™„thru:ii:r:;tatru-r:: 

.    nc,  an    wherev.  h=  stayed  for  a  few  days  on  Lalce  Supe- 

gave  1    ;  '■""   ""'"  ""'"'""f  "  ^™*  -f^"'.  w"'cl. 

te  on  it         Tf  ,*""  "''  ""'  "'  ^-"^  «">  "'i' 
«^o^t^rake^^^^^C,^^,  of  St.  Mary,  Miehigan, 

.  ..  .c»„„.  of  ,,,.  Tr,„ufi,hi„g  „f  that  p„r .,f  1        T     i  '  """' 
ilbere.  ^       '""  P""  »■  ">«  count,,  J  ,^0,5^ 


if 


(581 


582 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


July  30,  1858.  Weight,  6J  pounds;  lengtli,  24  inches;  cir- 
cumference, 13J  ;  taken  in  the  Batchewaunaung,  Canada  West. 
At  the  same  time  took  six  more.  Weight  of  the  seven  fish 
31 J  pounds."  Eoberts  says  that  Mr.  Cady's  word  is  not  to  be 
doubted.  The  bead  of  the  Lake  Trout  which  you  may  see  in 
the  window,  at  Philip  Wilson's  gun  and  tackle  store,  in 
Chestnut  above  Fourth  Street,  was  brought  from  Lake 
Superior,  by  the  President  of  our  little  club,  and  though  it  is 
twenty-one  inches  in  circumference,  it  is  from  a  small  fisL 
compared  with  some  that  have  been  taken  there.  I  have  no 
doubt,  that  a  person  who  was  properly  prepared,  could  troll 
successfully  for  these  monster  Trout--if  he  could  hit  the 
right  time,  say  in  June,  and  find  boatmen  who  knew  where  to 
fish  for  them. 

I  have  been  told  also,  that  the  Canadian  steamers,  which 
ply  between  Toronto  and  Chicago,  stop  at  several  points  on 
Manitouline  Islands,  where  there  are  fine  Trout-streams  within 
easy  distance ;  but  there  it  would  be  unnecessary  to  camp 
out.  It  is  said,  that  there  is  also  fine  Black  Bass  fishing  in 
the  little  bays  along  the  same  islands. 

Nor.  But,  what  do  you  know  personally  of  the  fly-fish. 
ing  on  Lake  Superior  ? 

Nbs.  I  have  already  told  you  that  it  is  now  more  than 
twenty  years  since  I  was  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  that  I  was 
never  beyond  there ;  I  have  a  letter,  though,  in  the  breast- 
pocket of  my  old  fishing-jacket,  which  was  written  by  your 
humble  servant  to  u  brother  of  the  angle,  while  waitinu-  at 
Mackinaw  for  a  boat,  after  his  return  from  the  Sault;  if  you 
have  energy  enough  left,  and  can  keep  awake  after  the  half- 
dozen  Trout  you  have  eaten,  you  may  read  it. 

Nob.  Let  me  knock  the  ashes  out  of  my  pipe,  and 
moisten  my  mouth  with  the  little  bit  of  claret  you  have  left 
in  that  bottle,  and  I'll  try  it. 


DIB8   PISOATORI^. 


588 


"  Dear  T\riLL :_  "  ^^^^^^^^'^^  June  24,  1848. 

before  leaving  Z  olan "'  *T'  "'"'  '  "^^^^^^  ^^^ 

Trout-fishing  at  Saul    ^Tm    -^  ""^  anticipations  of 

°'"^  ^*  ^ault  Ste.  Mane  were  realized.     As  I  shall 
have  to  wait  here  until  thp  97ti.  r     .i      t. 
have  seen  .11  fi.      •  T      ,  ^"''  *^^^'  ^'^t^^'i*  boat,  and 

Thiiof   ,t;;  ™  ^;^;-j°'"=-  two  f.t  ,„„, 

11.  "^^i/ieetot  Bass  at  a  singe  fishino-f      a    - 

had  in  viewmvtrintoTnl  .  ci        •  's'e  nsmng!     As  i 

then  ,o  see  our  cou,in,  near  bJ-  ,"  '  ^'^  ^"""-  "'"' 

"The  Brents  have  settled  some  fifteen  miles  ba.l-  nf  ,y. 
town  on  the  edge  of  a  prairie,  and  are  doing  :^,    t      Te 

IS,  that  hey  have  scareelj  tasted  a  smoked  herrin,,  ,;„" 

arnval,  Bob  proposed  Ashing  in  some  of  the  'sleu  h,'  Z 
ponds  supplied  by  the  back  water  of  the  T*,e  S  1 
of  the  spring  freshets,  when  the  BaraX!:^^":;:  "^ 
spawn,  and  many  of  them  are  Ipff  i     .x.  ,  ^    "" 

«ter  recedes. /an,  tw:j:, :::.::  c;:X" 

b         Bigni   out  the   blue  skv  ahnvp  -.r,^  +1,         n- 

gveen  beneath,  and  no  sound  hn. ..  '  """"'"S 

ana  no  sound  but  the  occasional  whirring  of  a 


6S4 


AMBRIOAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


prairie-fowl— What  a  lonesome,  beautifully  monotonous  scene ! 
After  twenty  minutes'  gallop  we  saw  trees  in  a  hollow  at  a 
distance,  which  are  sure  indications  of  water  on  the  prairie. 
We  soor.  had  our  lines  tied  to  the  ends  of  our  rods,  and  cauglit 
minnows  for  bait,  and  then  caught  Bass  and  Perch— fishk..' 
from  horseback  when  trying  the  different  sleughs,  and  dis° 
mounting  whenever  the  fish  bit  freely.  We  came  back  at 
sunset,  each  with  a  string  of  fish  at  his  saddle-bow. 

"On  returning  to  St.  Louis,  I  took  a  boat  for  Peoria,  Illinois, 
and  then  a  smaller  one  for  Peru.    We  had  but  few  passengers 
on  the  smaller  boat,  and  I  found  the  engineer  a  clever  lellow, 
with  a  rifle  in  his  room  and  a  bucket  of  live  minnows  in  the 
wheelhouse.    When  we  stopped  to  wood,  or  tinker  up  the  old 
engine,  as  we  did  once  for  half  a  day,  I  tried  a  live  minnow, 
and  sometimes  one  'bridled/  and  caught  some  fine  Black 
Bass,  one  of  them  eighteen  inches  long.   At  Peru  we  took  the 
stage,  and   after  thirty  hours'  ride  over  the  green  desolate 
prairie,    interspersed    occasionally    with    little    settlements, 
arrived  at  Chicago  and  embarked  on  the  steamer,  and  found 
myself  at  this  strange-looking  old  town  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  second  day. 

.  "  The  first  odd  thing  I  noticed  here  was  a  rough  little  four- 
wheeled  wagon,  which  the  owner  drove  on  board  the  steamer; 
it  was  drawn  by  tWo  stout  dogs,  and  loaded  with  immense 
Lake  Trout  and  Whitefish.  It  is  all  don  (not  horse)  power 
here.  The  inhabitants  use  them  to  draw  wood  from  the  island 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Strait  in  winter,  and  say  that  a 
pair  of  them  will  draw  a  sled  on  the  ice  loaded  with  u  halt- 
cord  of  wood  \nthout  difficulty ;  dogs  are  also  used  in  travel- 
ling over  land  when  there  is  a  hard  crust  on  the  snow. 

"  The  water  in  the  Straits  here,  as  in  all  of  these  lakes,  is 
exceedingly  clear.  You  can  easily  distinguish  the  lieads  of 
the  nails  and  the  seams  in  the  hull  of  a  steamboat  as  it  lies 


^TBS   PISCATORI^. 


680 


Wo  «t  ll,e  bottom.  '         *"''  """■"  P'''''''>'  "»i- 

-^reX  :rr  r  ^ "  --^ """'  ^-  '^«  ^-^ 

Montr.aUndwarol„fr    "'  ^^'^^^'^  ■"  Q™b.c  auj 
a»  ealled,a«;erV       '""■""  ""^  native  French 

'-e  .0. ..  lioir:  xtr  air  -^'^  °*^  ''-^' 

house  to  look  hoarv  with  J,    tVV        """"^  "'^  "  "™ 
shaped,  with  a  wide  pebb  !  h       '  7'  "  '"'"'■'  '^  "^^*-'- 
'"e  Chippewa  Indiarwh^  ^;'T  "'"  ""^  '™'^  "^ 
'■■-.  and  bu,  most  of  thei    ^oo    ^       ZT'''^  """"'• 
with  a  fair  gale  it  i,  n  >       .,7  ■  ''™  ">«y  ""me 

"■eir  light  bi:;  ai:  :•:  ■ "  t;;  "  ^"^^  '-^  -"'-« °^ 

like  the  wind,  '  ^"''''  ''^'^•=^«  '«""•".  'he/  sail 

"  At  the  fort  on  thp  hill  T  u 
table  Captain  ManTn  i    „  ™  "'™""'^  *'"'  "-  '-'• 

-'.-^.iseo!rio!:rb:i:rri:r^'" 

-yrod  here;  befo.  X:     j  .      '"V"','  "°  "^""^  "'* 
«ut  one  day  near  Bois  nil     t  ''"'"■  """"S''  ^  «■« 

.oiiftbisi.net,a:d":o:^":;lt  xt^'-'''-^^^^ 

fi^l)  out  of  them      T  am  t  1  ,"!*     f^  ^^''^  ^^^^^  ^nd  White- 

i..  Oarp  Biver,  Int  tl  m  l^^m  l^  '  ",""  ^™"'-«^""« 
I"----  of  pork,  or  an  artiflc  a    fl        !""'^'. '^'■''■•<'  "'«/  'ake  ,  ,   .. 
~™.  a  I.,„-e  Trout  her^l^I^X::;;™--"'^     ^  "ave 

was  ean^bt  with  a  hand-line  in  d!ep  w     f  ne'"""'^^" 
captured  it  told  me  hp  hn.  fni        ,  ''^  ^"^"  ^^o 

'hey  have  been  e"  .ht  t  It"  .  "  '^'"  "  '"*='»'  »^  *"' 
«  a  hu..dre,i  poundlll"  ^"f"""  ™8«°«  «.  much 


586 


AMERTCAM    ANOLBR'S    B00^ 


Nor.  (laying  down  the  letter.)  Whe-e-euh !  that's  a  whopper, 

Nbh     Which,  the  fish  or  the  story  ? 

Nor.   Both — tlie  story,  in  particular.     You  ought  to  have 
asked  t!.;it  man  to  fall  a  pound  or  two, 

Ne8.   I  thought  it  was  rather  a  "fish  story,"  h<     T  believe 
that  there  are  ajake  Trout  of  that  size. 

Nob.  You  ure  a  good  believer,  Nestor,  and  I  must  confess 
that  I  have  tried  your  faith  a  little  myself,  on  one  or  two 
occasions.  But  when  I  hear  it  "piled  up"  in  that  way,  ,  ,ay, 
with  fat  old  Jack,  "  Lord,  how  this  world  is  given  to  lying . ' 
see,  though,  your  journal  is  bringing  us  towards  the  Sault  at 
last. 

[Reads  again.  | 
"On  a  bright  June  morning,  at  sunrise,  I  started  on  a 
8teaml»';.H.  the  first  that  ever  made  the  passage  to  the  Sault- 
it  W8-,<  wnr  second  trip.  The  only  way  of  reaching  il;  before 
thij;  tlna^,  was  in  Mackinaw  boats  in  summer,  and  on  snow- 
shoes  auu  dog-sleds  in  winter.  T  arrived  in  nine  hours,  and 
stopped  with  Mr.  Barbier,  an  old  voyageur  and  guide,  whose 
life  has  been  spent  in  this  wilderness  of  woods  and  waters. 
He  keeps  a  store  with  a  general  assortment  of  Indian  goods, 
which  he  sells  for  money,  or  barters  for  furs,  sun-dried  corn, 
and  maple  sugar. 

"There  is  no  cascade,  or  what  might  properly  'oe  called  a 
fall,  in  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior,  but  the  'Sault,'  as  the 
word  implies,  is  a  rapid,  or  a  succession  of  them.  There  is  a 
descent  of  about  twenty-five  feet  in  three-quarters  of  a  niilu. 
A  canal  to  pass  the  rapids  has  been  projected,  and  alreiuly 
commenced  by  the  government,  which  will  open  all  the  rich 
copper  region  on  the  lake,  to  the  navigation  of  steamboats  and 
sailing-craft  of  moderate  draft  of  water.  A  brig  and  a 
schooner,  built  on  the  lake  above,  were  taken  safely  down 
the  rapids  last  summer.    It  is  about  fifteen  miles  to  Grog 


Oap,  at  the 
and  my  aru 
ing  it. 

'  The  toi 
dogg   for  it 

Ksqiumaux 
Indian  has 
anil  horses; 
their  ()aunc] 
dead  d"      ( 
candle 
them ;  i. 
of  his  houndi 
no  dog  law  i\ 
"I  found  a 
the  lower  end 
says  they  iiv 
with  the  spea 
dip-net  we  ha 
kill ;  the  han( 
of  the  net — I 
They  go  in  th( 
a  boat ;  the  or 
blanket  tied  i 
holds  the  net ; 
paddle  or  pol 
proper  directio 
fish,  and  by  de: 
a  turn  sideway 
be  pressed  dow 
bottom,  and  t\ 
and  I  suppose  t 
near  the  bow. 


« 


BI»«    PISCAIOBia. 


S37 


«»?.  at  ,„a  1„     ,  „„d  of  Lake  Superior.    My  li.nited  .i„,e 
W  »y  a,.„ety  to  flsh  the  rapid,  did  not  alW  of  „y  "i:: 

ao«.   for  ,t,  p„|,„,„t.„„,  ,,„„  .„y  ,„ 
fc8q„„„„ux  country.     Every  white  ,f  breed    a!l 

Iu,„ha.,„oreo,the.thanaVi,  „rl  Zjco: 

an"  hordes;  .t  .a  a  wonder  where  they  ,.„  ,et  enough  to  -p" 

tZ  T  '"•  ^'''''"  ''''  *"'  "  '"-"■  "  cow 
andle  ,  ,a,r  ol  grea»ed  „,oocaaina,  does  not  come  amisa  to 
tbern  ,..,!,  ^  our  old  fnend,  Jaelc  Tanoil,  of  Warrenton,  aays 
of  laa  hound,,  ■  they  are  everlastingly  sarching.'  As  th  rel 
=0  dog  law  in  St.  Mary,  the  tribe  does  not  diminish. 

the  lower  end  of  the  rapids,  just  above  the  village.  Barbier 
says  they  l,ve  here  entirely  on  Whiteils„,  which  they  t'ke 
w.th  the  spear  and  dip-net.  The  latter  resembles  the  conJon 
d.p-net  we  have  seen  used  at  Fairmount  da,n  on  the  Sohuyl- 

of  the  net-I  have  seen  the  Indians  take  Whiteflsh  with  it 
1  ey  go  ,n  the.r  birch  canoes  to  th    foot  of  the  rapid,  two  in 
a  boat;    he  one  .n  the  bow,  wh.  .enerall,  has  an  old  coat  or 
lanke    fed  m  front  like  an  apron,  to  keep  off  the  spray 
1."  d»  .he  net ;  the  other  in  the  stern,  by  the  ready  use  of  hfs 
paddle  or  pole,  keeps  the  head  of  the  cockie-sbell  in 
proper  d,rec..on,  while  his  companion  in  the  bow  finds  the 
fl.h,  and  by  dexterously  casting  his  net  over  the  prey,  gives  it 
a  turn  s.deways  and  secures  it.    The  net  appeaL'lways  to 
b  pressed  downwards,  as  if  the  iish  was  forced  towards  the 
bottom,  and  then  turned  apparently  to  prevent  its  escape- 
and  I  suppose  this  is  why  the  handle  has  that  peculiar  bend' 
near  the  bow.    These  Whiteflsh  are  as  large  as  Shad,  and  are 


o :  v>.  ^^- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.4      1.6 

I.I 

1.25 

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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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A88 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


delicious,  resembling  the  Sbad  somewhat  in  flavor,  but  not  so 
bony.  I  have  seen  the  Indians  take  twenty  or  thirty  in  an 
hour ;  sometimes  two  at  a  single  dip  of  the  net. 

'Soon  after  my  arrival  at  St.  Mary,  I  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Louie  Leponts,  a  half-breed  Indian,  in  a  long  swallow- 
tailed  blue  coat,  who  I  found  was  addicted  to  whipping  his 
wife,  getting  drunk,  and  going  a  fishing.  I  profited  by  Louie's 
acquaintance,  and  engaged  him  and  his  brother  as  my  '  voy- 
ageurs,'  in  going  up  and  down  the  rapids  on  my  fishing 
excursions.  The  ascent  and  descent  of  the  Sault  is  no  child's 
play ;  nothing  but  long  practice,  a  quick  eye,  great  skill  in 
the  use  of  the  paddle  and  pole,  and  steadiness  of  nerve  can 
accomplish  it. 

"  On  my  first  day's  fishing,  Louie  held  a  pole  of  fifteen  feet, 
with  which  he  did  great  execution,  catching  two  to  my  one. 
He  is  as  good  a  specimen  of  a  natural  angler  as  I  ever  met 
with ;  and,  considering  his  rough  tackle,  costs  a  large  fly  (and 
none  other  should  be  used  here)  with  considerable  skill.  The 
fly,  which  he  made  himself,  was  on  a  rough  Kirby  hook,  size 
00,  a  piece  of  red  flannel  tied  around  the  shank,  and  a  tuft  of 
feathers  bunglingly  fastened  at  the  head.  On  our  second  trip 
I  was  lucky  enough  to  break  the  small  end  of  his  rod  in 
getting  into  the  canoe,  thus  monoplizing  the  sport ;  and  in 
our  excursions  afterwards  prevailed  on  him  to  leavef  it  behind. 
I  also  fished  the  Little  Falls,  two  or  three  miles  down  the 
river,  near  the  Methodist  Mission,  and  had  great  sport,  my 
largest  fish  weighing  about  three  pounds,  and  most  of  them 
were  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  inches  in  length.  My  firs,  trip 
up  and  down  the  Sault  produced  thirty-rive  fish.  On  the 
second  day  I  had  more  sport,  catching  them  mostly  with  the 
fly  but  when  they  would  not  rise,  used  an  artificial  minnow, 
or  the  '  Kill-devil,'  or  a  strip  of  the  belly  of  the  fish.    After- 


DIES   PISCATORI^. 


689 


wards,  I  got  the  kna^k  of  steadying  myself  in  the  canoe,  when 
casting,  and  used  the  fly  altogether. 

"  There  is  a  long  narrow  island  on  the  Canadian  side  of  the 
river,  and  between  it  and  the  shore  a  narrow  channel,  which 
1  am  told,  can  be  waded  in  most  places,  and  that  it  affords 
fine  fishmg.    If  the  water  had  not  been  so  cold  1  would  have 
tried  it. 

"Ingoing  up  and  down  the  rapids  I  found  that  Louie's 
brother  had  good  reason  for  taking  his  net  and  spear  along 
m  our  first  ascent  he  caught  three  Whitefish  in  his  net,  at  a 
single  dip;  he  also  speared  several,  besides  a  large  gogde- 
eyed  Pickerel.   He  did  not  throw  his  spear  when  in  the  ^pid 
water,  but  moved  the  iron  cautiously  towards  the  fish,  and 
then  with  a  thrust  pinned  it  to  the  bottom,  when  the  ashen 
handle  would  quiver  and  shake  with  the  death-struggle  of 
the  victim  and  the  force  of  the  current.     He  frequently  tried 
to  point  out  a  fish  to  me  before  he  speared  it,  but  it  was  no 
use ;  I  could  not  see  it  through  the  rushing  water. 

"In  the  rapids  the  canoe  was  at  all  times  under  perfect 
contn-ol.     In  ascending,  advantage  was  always  taken  of  anv 
eddy  formed  below  a  ledge,  or  a  large  rock  that  jutted  above 
or  came  near  the  surface,  the  light  bark  was  pushed  along 
the  still  water,  and  then  turned  quickly  into  the  sharp  cur 
rent  at  the  side  of  the  rock,  when  there  would  be  a  fierce 
struggle,  the  water  foaming  and  boiling  almost  over  the  bow 
as  It  was  forced  up  the  declivity.    Sometimes  the  delicate 
ribs  of  the  eanoe  would  bend  as  the  thin  sides  were  com- 
pressed  in  passing  between  rocks  where  it  would  have  been 
impossible  for  an  ordinary  boat  to  get  through,  or  where  its 
st^  planks  would  have  been  broken.     What  was  most  aston- 
ishing, though,  was  the  way  that  Auguste  alone  would  hold 
the  canoe  steady  with  his  setting-pole,  when  we  stopped  to 
fish,  the  bow  always  dividing  the  current  equally,  and  neve 
vesring  in  the  least  to  one  side  or  the  other. 


540 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


"I  spent  one  Sabbath  at  the  Sault,  and  attended  worship  at 
the  old  stockade  fort  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon 
visited  the  Methodist  Mission  at  the  Little  Falls,  two  or  three 
miles  below,  and  met  the  man  '  Tanner,'  who  was  captured  by 
the  Indians  when  a  boy,  and  who  spent  thirty  years  of  his 
life  amongst  them.     He  acts  as  interpreter  for  the  Mission. 

"  I  returned  from  the  Sault  in  one  of  those  ancient  crafts 
called  a 'Mackinaw  boat,'  paying  five  dollars  passage,  with 
the  privilege  of  rowing  as  much  as  I  pleased.  Our  journey 
occupied  two  days ;  the  first  night  we  camped  in  a  swampy 
place,  when  we  were  almost  devoured  by  mosquitoes;  the 
second  night  we  slept  on  a  rocky  point,  extending  far  out  into 
the  lake,  where  we  had  a  good  breeze,  and  were  not  troubled 
with  them.  There  was  a  beautiful  little  island  right  in  front 
of  us,  with  a  few  trees  on  it,  and  as  the  sun  went  down  I 
thought  of  the  picture  of  the  Prison  of  Chillon,  which  you 
gave  me,  and  of  Byron's  lines,  alluding  to  its  inmate,  who, 
when  at  last  allowed  to  climb  to  the  grated  window,  describes 
what  he  saw : — 


are  some 


"And  thin  there  was  a  little  isle, 
Which  in  my  very  face  did  smile, 

The  only  one  in  view ; 
A  small  green  isle,  it  seem'd  no  more, 
Scarce  broader  than  my  dungeon  floor, 
But  in  it  there  were  three  tall  trees, 
And  o'er  it  blew  the  mountain  breeze, 
And  by  it,  there  were  waters  flowing, 
And  on  it,  there  were  young  flowers  growing 

Of  gentle  breath  and  hue." 

Nor.  (folding  up  the  letter.)  I'll  stop  now,  Nestor.  You 
would  never  die  happy  if  you  did  not  cram  a  few  rhymes 
into  your  narratives ;  besides,  we  have  got  past  the  fishing, 
and  I  have  no  further  interest  in  your  lengthy  "  billy-doo." 


DIES    PISCATORI^. 


Ml 


Nes.   If  you  profess  to  love  angling  for  its  associations,  and 
cannot  appreciate  such  rhymes  as  those,  I  give  you  up ;  there 
are  some  lines  on  the  back  of  that  old  letter  that  don't  rhyme. 
I  copied  them  from  Hiawatha  when  I  first  read  the  book. 
Lake  Superior,  you  know,  was  the  "  Gitchie-Gumee"  of  the 
Ojibwas,  or,  as  they  are  called  now,  Chippewas,  and  according 
to  their  wild  tradition,  the  Red  Swan,  after  it  was  wounded 
by  the  magic  arrow  of  Ojibwa,   went  slowly  flapping  it. 
wings  across  its  broad  surface  towards  the  setting  sun  •  you 
had  better  not  read  the  extr..t  though,  after  saying,  as  you 
did  the  other  day,  that  "Hiawatha"  had  the  same  jingle  as  the 
"Nigger  Gin'ral." 

Nor.  I  did  not  mean  to  disparage  Longfello.,  by  com- 
paring his  "Hiawatha"  with  the  "Nigger  Giural,"  I  only 
implied  that  they  were  both  of  the  same  metre,  and  very 
"particular  metre"  it  is.  I'll  give  you  a  few  lines  of  the 
Nigger  Gin'ral,"  as  Old  Dick  Cooper  used  to  sing  it,  and 
you  can  judge  for  yourself.  I  leave  out  the  chorus,  and  as  I 
have  no  banjo,  the  accompaniment  also. 

"  Now,  my  boys,  I'm  bound  to  tell  you, 
0  listen  a  while  and  I  will  tell  you ; 
I'll  tell  you  'bout  de  Nigger  Gin'ral, 
I'll  tell  you  'bout  de  Gin'ral  Gable. 
A  leetle  boy  betrayed  his  gin'ral, 
A  leetle  boy,  by  de  name  o'  Dan'el ; 
Betrayed  him  down  to  Norfo'k  landin', 
Becaae  he  called  him  Uncle  Gable. 

"  '0  how  dy  do,  my  Uncle  Gable?' 
'  0  no  I  ain't  your  Uncle  Gable  I' 
'  0  yes  you  is  my  Uncle  Gable.' 
•  0  no  I  aint  your  Uncle  Gable, 
For  I  do  know  your  Uncle  Gable. 
A  man  belong  to  Major  Prosser.' " 


542 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Now  I  call  that  hexameter  in  the  rough,  and  taking  it  all 
through,  it  is  pretty  good  legendary  poetry,  to  boot. 

Nks.  Your  taate  in  such  matters,  my  dear  boy,  betrays  your 
"bringing  up;"  but  it  seems  to  me,  that  a  man  who  spends 
much  of  his  time  on  lake  or  river,  and  allows  the  "  particular 
metre,"  as  you  call  it,  and  the  repetitions  in  "  Hiawatha"  to 
prejudice  him  against  the  book,  comes  short  of  a  full 
appreciation  of  camping  out,  or  cooking  his  dinner  on  the 
stream. 

Nor.  Now  you  are  a  beautiful  specimen  of  a  star-struck 
fisherman,  with  your  hair  poking  through  the  crowo  of 
that  old  hat,  and  that  terrible  rent  in  your  trousers ;  how 
you  would  captivate  your  wife,  and  the  ladies  in  general. 
But  let  me  give  you  the  concluding  lines  of  the  drama,  as 
well  as  I  can  recollect  them,  and  then  if  you  can  see 
no  similarity  between  the  "Song  of  Hiawatha,"  and  the 
"Song  of  the  Nigger  Gin'ral,"  I'll  consent  to  a  truce  between 
Longfellow  and  Dick  Cooper.  See  now,  how  harmoniously 
the  descriptive  blends  with  the  dramatic. 

"  Thursday  week  come  on  his  trial. 

Ho  my  boys  you  most  done. 

{But  I  forgot,  I  did  not  mean  to  put  in  the  chorus.) 

"  Dey  sont  an  called  all  de  county, 
To  come  and  see  de  Nigger  Gin'ral ; 
Some  dey  called  him  Archy  MuUin, — 
Right  name  was  John  de  Cullin. 
I'm  here  to-day  and  gone  to-morrow, 
I  didn't  come  to  stay  forever. 


"  Dey  drove  him  down  to  de  gallus, 
Drove  him  down  wid  fo'  gray  hose^is ; 
Diggs's  Ben  he  druv  de  wagon. 
Dar  dey  hung  him  and  dey  swung  him, 
An  dat's  de  end  of  de  Nigger  Gin'ral. 


DIES    PISCATORI^ 


548 


"  Hard  times  in  Old  Virginny, 
Ole  Virginny  almost  ruined, 
Ruined  by  de  Nigger  Gin'ral. 

"  Polly  what  you  got  for  supper ; 
Mutton  shank  and  apple  dumplins, 
Good  enuf  for  hi'erd  niggas." 

MORRY.   Very  dramatic  indeed-the  last  three  lines  par- 
icularly  so-but  tell  me,  were  Gin'ral  Gable  and  Nat  Turner 
the  same  or  different  persons  ? 

Nor    Different-Gabriel  was  the  ehief  of  an  early  and 
much  better.planned  insurrection:   Nat  Turner  headed  the 

that  both  of  them  were  fellows  of  great  aptitude  as  leaders, 
and  had  they  made  their  escape  by  au  underground  railroad 
and  lived  to  the  present  time,  you  and  your  friends  would  no 
doubt  have  made  them  captains  in  the  Corps  d'Afrique 

MOR.  Perhaps  if  your  friend  Dick  Cooper  was  alive.'  since 
you  have  such  an  opinion  of  his  talents,  you  would  use  your 
influence  to  have  hi.n  appointed  leader  of  a  regimental  band 
m  the  Corps  d  Afrique,  and  introduce  the  banjo  as  an  instru- 
ment  ot  martial  music. 

NOK.   lJi„k  was  not  a  scientific  musician,  tune  and  harmony 
wuhhnn  were  intuitive;  to  lave  taught  him  music  from  a 
boolc  would  have  cramped  his  genius,  and  to  write  his  sours 
on  paper  would  have  spoiled  them  ;  as  any  true  and  natural 
negro  mus.c  will  be  spoiled  by  tryin,  ,„  adapt  it  to  the  taste 
of  those  who  generally  attend  the  concerts  of  what  are  called 
negro  mmstrels."    If  you  had  asked  him  if  he  played  by 
note  he  would  likely  have  replied,  as  a  black  fiddler  of 
celebrity  once  did  at  a  dance  in  Kentucky,  "No  Sir  I  plavs 
by  de  night.»-Bu.  what  have  we  here?    It  fell  Ln  ^e 
of  the  pocketa  of  your  flybook,  as  I  was  about  to  replace 


644 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOR. 


jrour  letter;   it  is  a  sketch  of  some  old  fisherman-who 

18  It?  ^ 

Nes.  Why  that's  "Uncle  Lot,"  a  mysterious  old  fellow 
who  haunted  the  Williwemock  and  Beaverkill,  about  Chester 
Darby's,  for  many  years.  Nobody  knew  where  he  came  from 
and,  I  am  told,  he  at  last  disappeared,  and  nobody  knew  where 
he  went  to;  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  called  him 


Th«  Fish-Hahtk. 


F&URTH    NOONINft 

TBOUT.KISHINO  IN  THE  ADIHOXbacKS. 


85 


"Tns  luiinOinK  riitaract 
lUiinted  him  like  u  pasaiun  :  tliu  tiill  rock, 
Vli«  niuiiiitnin,  auii  the  Uuvp  and  KliNiiny  wuoU, 
TUuir  cclcrt  hiuI  tlielr  furina,  wure  then  to  hini 
An  appotito;  a  feeling  and  a  lovu 
That  had  no  need  of  a  remoter  charm 
By  thought  supplied." 

WOBDtWORTn. 


TKOUT.PISHING  IN  THE  ADIEONDACKa 

FOURTH  NOONING. 

and  Nbstor.] 

Job.  How  it  pours  I 

N«8.  A  good,  steady,  honest  r«i„,  and  there  will  be  no 
flshmg  until  a  day  or  two  after  it  clears  up;  it  will  take  thj 
t^e  for  the  creek  to  fall  .mciently;  then  the  wterwlU 
J"s.  nght,  as  Broadhead  «.ys,  ..of  „  tea  color,"  and  we  wH 
...ok  them.    Those  we  eooke,l  in  the  old   flre-plaJwrrl 
caugM  by  tinele  Ickey  with  wor„.bait,  under  the 'faTof T 

sionTo  T'Ti'  ""^f"  """'  '"'  '^"'"S  "=  of  y°"  «»r- 
.on  to  the  Ad,ro„dacke  last  summer.    But  how  did  you 

happen  to  go  there  in  August?    You     ..d  not  have  eho^en 
a  worse  time  for  fishing. 

in  ^Z  ™,  ""  ^™;  J"'"  ^"""^  """  ^^'"'«''  '""■^  his  knee 
.n  the  early  part  of  last  season,  when  wading  the  ereek  at 

J.n.  Henrys,  and  as  Ashing  and  sketching  fre  two  i;  the 

necessanes  of  life  to  him,  he  was  obliged,  for  the  remainder 

of  the  summer,  to  adopt  the  alternative  of  drawing  and  fish. 

.ng  from  a  boat.    I„  no  part  of  the  country  is  this  more  easily 

done  than  on  the  lakes  and  still  water,  amongst  the  Adiron 

.  acks,  so  he  fed  h,s  rods  in  a  bundle,  and  packing  his  fly. 

book,    .eteh-book,  and  a  few  colors,  .n  his  wallet,  started  f^ 

b..  two  canes  all  summer,  like  ...he  Devil  on  two  Sticks" 

(547) 


648 


AMERICAN    ANOLER'8    HOOK. 


(though  not  as  lively  a  cripple  as  his  Satanic  Majesty  is  .said 
to  be),  and  made  frequent  excursions,  by  boat,  to  the  diffbrent 
fishing-places  in  the  neighborhood,  and  went  several  times  to 
the  Raquette  River  and  the  lakes  beyond.  When  his  camp 
or  his  lodgings  were  more  than  twenty  yards  from  the  place 
of  landing  from  his  boat,  Sam  Duiming,  an  old  fellow  who 
stands  about  six  feet  two  in  his  stcxjkings,  with  breadth  of 
beam  in  proportion,  carried  him  "  picka-back."  Ho  made  a 
sketch  illustrating  this  mode  of  locomotion,  but  as  the  picture 
flatters  Sam  and  disparages  the  Artist,  he  would  not  lot  mo 
have  it,  though  he  gave  me  several  sketches  of  illustrious 
personages,  which  I  will  show  you  as  I  tell  my  story.  I 
promised  him  I  would  let  no  one  but  the  "  Houseless"  see 
them.  He  wrote  me  a  glowing  description  of  the  scenery, 
fishing,  and  his  manner  of  life,  and  as  I  had  long  wished  to 
see  that  country,  and  hoped  to  be  alone  with  him,  I  joined 
him  after  he  had  been  there  a  month  or  six  weeks. 

Job.   Does  the  country  resemble  that  about  Lake  Pleasant  ? 

Nes.  Not  in  the  least.  The  Saranac  Lakes,  particularly 
the  lower,  appear  to  have  been  thrown  down  amongst  the  hi^h 
peaks  of  the  Adirondacks,  the  upper  lake  being  rather  north 
and  west  of  the  mountains;  while  Piseco,  Lake  Pleasant, 
Round  Lake,  and  Louie  Lake,  are  rather  south-east  of  the 
main  range,  and  occupy  the  high  table-land  in  the  southern 
part  of  Hamilton  County,  where  the  face  of  the  country, 
although  it  is  rolling,  can  hardly  be  called  mountainous,  as  it 
is  further  north. 

Joe.   What  route  do  you  take  to  get  there  ? 

Nes.  It  is  a  mere  pleasure  trip,  by  way  of  Albany  and 
Whitehall,  at  the  southern  or  upper  end  of  Lake  Champlain. 
I'here  you  take  the  boat  which  runs  to  Rouse's  Point,  stopping 
at  all  the  landings  on  its  passage  down  the  lake,  and  passing 
several  places  of  historical  interest.     When  you  arrive  at 


UBS    PISCATORIa, 


M» 


bed  l„  Kee»ev,ll„,  at  a  little  hotel  kept  by  T«ri,«r,I  an  1 

r;-  '"-^ :,'"  f«"-.  -'."  -.» a  -r„  :i:t  a ::  '; 

an^d  o„„aa.„„all,  .11,  a„  etnb.yo  .p„„,™.„  „hat  „e  ealj  M, 

ex^rlJ:  "  ""'"'^  '"  '"^  '■"  »'"-  »'  P'-.io„s  f„.  the 

Nes.  By  no  means.    Martin,  „,  the  lake,  can  snppU  all 
the  necessaries  a  reasonable  man  may  require     If  „„, 
particular  he  had  better  take  the  few  '11  b  "" 

from  town.  ""^^  ^°  """y  "« 

in  AuU'?  '"  '"'  """"  '""""  '""""^  '"'  ^'"™«'"«'" 

t.me  than  at  any  other,  I  found  Taggard's  hotel  crammed 
mth  cockney  sportsmen,  going  „nd  returning  fron,  the  Cker^ 
-mc  of  t  em  the  most  pretentions,  verdanUookin..  ,  nt  « 

>^ou  meet  with  a  man  now  and  then,  don't  you,  who  looks  if 
.you  were  to  slap  him  on  the  back  with  a  shin-i;  a,  if    ,,  , 
would  fly  out-.   Wen,  the  Nimrod  of  the  pirty  w    ' tlr; 

™  b  h  ™f/"''  """  "'"■"'"«  Oeer,"  was'^f  tlat  ; 
111  bet  he  could  no,  tell  a  buck  from  an  old  stump  at  thirtt' 
yarfs,much  less  hit  one.  They  all  affected  the  rough 
walked  about  with  bowie-knives  stuck  in  the  belts  oTlheir 
unt,ng.shirts,  as  if  they  expected  next  minute  ^  mee"  ate 
l»d.an-perfeet  Daniel  Boones  and  Kit  Carsons  It  „1  ! 
'-e  me  afraid  to  look  at  them,  though  nrZbt  they"'::: 


550 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


inoflFensive  people  at  home.  What  a  deuce  of  a  propeusity 
city  folks  have,  when  they  do  anything  out  of  the  way,  to 
"  dress  the  character  !" 

Joe.  What  in  the  name  of  common  sense  has  all  this  to  do 
with  fishing  in  the  AdirOndacks  ?  Go  on  with  your  story ;  do 
you  go  up  the  Saranac  River  ? 

Nes.  My  dear  Joe,  you  should  never  be  in  a  hurry  when 
you  go  a  fishing,  or  tulk  about  fishing;  but  pass  me  that 
bottle  of  ale,  and  I'll  "  grease  the  wheels"  and  go  on.  You 
don't  go  up  the  Saranac ;  besides,  the  Saranac  can  hardly  be 
called  a  river ;  you  go  up  the  Au  Sable.  You  must  know 
that  Keeseville  is  on  the  Au  Sable.  There  is  a  splendid  cata- 
ract just  before  you  enter  the  town,  and  cascades  in  the  town, 
for  the  river  comes  tearing  right  through  it,  and  is  bridged  in 
two  or  three  places.  There  are  no  falls  above  the  town,  ex- 
cept where  the  river  is  dammed  at  the  iron-works,  and  they 
are  not  as  high  as  the  falls  of  Niagara ;  but  you  see  beautiful 
rapids  and  pools  as  you  drive  up  the  river,  where  there  must 
have  been  fine  Salmon-casts  in  other  days. 

Nob.  What,  did  you  say,  was  the  height  of  the  fall  just 
before  you  enter  Keeseville  ? 

Nes.  Thirty  feet,  I  suppose ;  it  falls  as  perpendicularly  as 
water  can  come  down,  and  as  a  certain  London  book-maker 
says,  in  his  "  Tourist's  Guide"  of  Glenn's  Falls  on  the  Hudson, 
"Here  the  water  thunders  and  spirts,"  just  as  if  the  cataract 
that  Cooper  immortalizes  in  "The  Last  of  the  Mohicans" 
could  behave  itself  like  a  barrel  of  new  cider,  or  spruce  beer. 

Nor.  What  a  poor  theorist  you  are !  you  said  that  there 
were  no  doubt  fine  Salmon-casts  on  the  Au  Sable,  above 
Keeseville,  in  olden  times,  and  that  the  falls  below  the  town 
are  thirty  feet  high,  and  perpendicular.  How  could  a  Salmon 
get  over  a  cataract  of  thirty  feet  ? 
Nes.  I  give  it  up;  it  is  all  a  matter  of  fancy,  and  my 


I>IBS  PISCATORI^. 


551 


rZl  the's"'  °''t"°"  '°  '""'  ■"■*  '^'°°-    Salmon  did 
ruu  up  the  Saranao,  though;  I  have  the  word  of  one  of  the 

Jot  But  how  did  they  get  into  Lake  Champlain? 

Nk3.  Through  the  Sorel  Kiver,  of  course,  from  the  St 
Lawrence.     The  rid*  n.,  fl,„  a     o  t.  '• 

in.,  but  Ur  ,r  '^  ®''"°  """  ""'  '"'  intei-eat. 

2  h  Us  Id    T™  ■"""  ""'""'"■'  ^""^  "' '"«  distance. 
Mount  «arc,;  the  Indians  ea,.;  tiLlJ^^Zl 

Indian  name,  and  is  complimented  with  that  of  Mr  Marc v 

just  as  another  peak  has  been  robbed  of  its  fine  old  t'iH     ^' 

w  now  called  ■•  Mount  Seward."  "''  ""' 

Nob    a  like  liberty  has  been  taken  with  the  name  of  a 

-eshamo„yAntrsr:irrn:t;:L::,  r  ^'^^^ 

amrted  a  town  there,  and  called  it  after  imsj^f  mI  „  T* 
the  euphonic  name  of  &W,„7fe.  wZ tl^  .,  f 
.aw  passed  to  make  pcrpet^tions  of  this^r'a: Jt^r:;,':  ; 
^rt-r "  .on  have  a  pretty  rough  ride  from  K'eese:rto 

NE8.  By  no  means;  there  is  a  plank-road  for  two-thirds 

l:^h::;rJ:::;r'--^V'""'•''-^"^^ 
«e»  it  is  wTi::;^^^^^^^^ 

-  Saranac  W  .s  orlrb^rr l^rttat: 


552 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


a  store,  a  post-office,  and  a  blacksmith-shop,  are  the  usual 
germs  of  a  future  village.  Here  is  a  little  sketch,  which  is 
positive  evidence  that  Walter  was  detained  there  when  pass- 
ing. Of  course  he  could  not  be  idle,  and  for  want  of  a  better 
subject  procured  the  blacksmith's  boy,  as  he  afterwards  told 
me  for  the  sum  of  one  dime ;  the  lad's  face  is  a  receipt  for  the 
amount  of  happiness  so  large  a  sum  of  money  can  create. 


Mr.  Baker  told  me  there  was  fine  fly-fishing  in  the  rapids 
in  front  of  his  house  in  June,  though  Martin's  is  more  con- 
venient to  the  angler,  and  all  those  who  take  boats  and  guides 
for  the  lakes  and  Raquette  River,  embark  at  his  house. 


BIBB    PISCATOm*. 


663 


l„  J!!k-  '  "T  ''''"^' '""'  "'°''*'  "•»  "»P«=rfon  that  a  good 

Nbs^  No,v,  bles.  yoar  innocent  heart!  Bill  Martin  ha.  a 

tenp,n.alley,  a  ball-room,  a  piano,  a  ladie,'  parlor,  op«nin. 
out  on  .  ,„^  ,,„.  „^^^,^^^^  ^,_^  __^^^_  ^  gentleman  W 

^ng-room    where  you  lounge  and  tie  flies,  a  fleet  of  fairy 

pounds-and  a  seore  or  two  of  atalwart  retainers,  who  act  as 
gmda.  and  can  take  you  almost  anywhere.  BeLide.  he  hi 
deerhouuds,  nfles,  shot-guns,  troUing-rods,  fly-rods.  and  all 
that,  for  he  .s  a  great  deer-hunter  and  a  good  fly.flsher,  and 
always  has  venison  and  Trout  on  his  table-Why  he  is  a 

tlrel"'^''"' ,"??"'  ""•"'"'  '  think  there  are  some  fifty 
urreted  pme-clad  httle  islands  in  the  lake,  near  his  house 

111  show  you  a  sketch  of  a  pair  of  Bill's  .^tainers-Walter 
took  them  as  they  were  discussing  the  subject  of  the  draft 

Joe.  The  man  with  the  hip.roofed  hat,  looks  as  if  he  h.ad 
the  worst  of  the  argnment-of  course  there  must  be  a  good 
"■  Z'T""""'  '°  ''"™'  '"  -'"W'^mant  of  that  kfnd  ? 

trip  ^th  „'"  T'rH^  *"'  "  '"  °"'"'  '°  ""oP'-^-e  of  the 
r,p  wuh  one  who  hkes,  when  he  leaves  town,  to  leave  town 

peope  behind;  for  the  Saranac  Lakes  are  so  easy  of  access 

that  they  have  even  become  fashionable.    Martini  is  a  kd 

boyond.  I  have  seen  men  embark  at  his  landing  with  their 
wives  Children  and  other  baggage;  their  eooki:g  nte  sU 

which  tt""         '^'  ''""'"  "*  '"^""-'  ".-Aass-rS 
l^^hly  flnished  guns  that  were  innocent  of  the  death  of  deer 

or  some  of  the  lakelets  and  ponds  beyond  the  Raquette,  to 


564 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOR. 


camp  out  for  weeks.  Many  of  these  are  people  who  live  in 
luxury  at  home,  who  have  become  weary  of  Newport,  Sara- 
toga, and  Nahant,  and  come  out  "  to  rough  it."  Some  "  satisfy 
the  sentiment"  in  a  single  trip,  others  repeat  the  excursion 
year  after  year,  until  the  men  become  passable  woodsmen,  and 
the  women  right  good  squaws. 

Nor.  Fishing  and  philandering,  I  think,  are  very  opposite 
amusements.  I  don't  like  to  mix  them;  and  meeting  any  num- 
ber of  town  folks  amongst  such  places  and  scenes  as  I  have 
heard  Walter  describe,  would  seem  to  me  like  an  untimed 
intrusion. 

Nes.  I  think  it  rather  adds  to  the  charm  when  one  can 
take  his  wife  and  children  on  such  an  excursion ;  that  is,  if  be 


DIBS   PISCATORIiB. 


556 


18  not  so  ardent  a  sportsman  that  it  interferes  with  his  huntina 
and  fishing.    Still,  I  confess.  I  was  somewhat  shocked  al 
times  to  find  the  Adirondacks  so  hackneyed;  the  "carries" 
from  one  lake  to  another,  as  you  go  from  Martin's  to  the  Ea- 
quette  are  well-worn  roads,  and  at  two  of  them  there  are 
wagons  to  convey  canoes  and  baggage  across.     The  little  out- 
let  of  Stony  Creek  Pond  which  flows  into  the  Raqnette,  and 
the  Eaquette  itself,  are  so  much  travelled  in  the  month  of 
August  as  to  suggest  the  idea  of  "the  raging  canawl."     I 
recollect  on  one  occasion,  after  Walter  and  I  had  been  fore- 
stalled at  several  good  fly-casts  by  some  rough  bait-fishers 
bound  for  the  Eaquette,  that  we  came  to  the  mouth  of  Am- 
phusand  Brook,  and  thought  we  would  have  a  good,  quiet 
lonely  time.     Our  guides  put  our  boats  within  easy  cast  of  the 
best  places,  the  Trout  were  dimpling  the  water  all  around 
and  we  had  made  a  few  successful  casts,  "  when  faint  from 
further  distance  borne,  was  heard  the  clang"_of  something 
like  a  canal  tin  horn,  and  looking  up  towards  the  head  of 
Stony  Creek  Pond,  a  boat  rounded  the  point,  a  flag  flying  at 
the  bow,  and  two  red-shirted  "Bowery-boy"  looking  fellows 
in  the  middle  of  it,  approached   us  flourishing  an  empty 
bottle,  and  singing  Old  Dan  Tucker.-"  Oh  solitude,  where  v.ve 
thy  charms?"  exclaimed  Walter  mournfully,  winding  up  his 
line,  while  I  sat  down  as  Major  Jack  Dade  of  Virginia^says 
"  in  the  most  pi-ignant  grief."    We  gave  up  fishing  and  went 
back  to  Stephen  Martin's,  where  we  had  engaged  lodgings  for 
the  night. 

Joe.  I  have  heard  that  hunting  is  as  great  an  inducement 
to  go  to  the  Adirondacks  as  fishing. 

Nes.  It  is  with  most  persons;  a  friend  who  encamped  for 
nearly  a  month  on  Wolf  Pond,  beyond  the  Eaquette,  last 
September,  had  a  fresh  deer  hanging  before  his  tent-door 
every  day.    If  a  person  has  a  guide  who  is  a  good  hunter 


lit 


566 


AMERICAN    ANOLER'S    UOUK. 


and  dogs  to  drive  tbem  into  lake  or  river,  it  requires  very 
little  skill  on  his  part  to  get  venison ;  and  a  man  who  is  a 
very  poor  shot  will  sometimes  start  from  Martin's  and  return 
in  a  few  days  with  two  or  three  deer,  for  when  they  are 
driven  into  into  the  water,  there  is  very  little  chance  of  their 
escape,  if  the  hunter  is  watching  near  the  place  where  they 
go  in ;  or  in  "  shining"  them  either,  for  the  guide  silently 
paddles  you  up  almost  close  enough  to  catch  the  victim  by 
the  tail ;  and  then  there  is  some  chance  of  shooting  the  guide 
or  the  dog,  or  yourself  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  or 
the  guide  has  to  knock  the  deer  on  the  head  with  a  club,  if 
you  don't  kill  him.  When  Martin  wants  venison,  he  sends 
any  of  the  guides  who  may  be  lounging  about  the  house  off 
on  a  drive.  Here  is  a  rough  copy  of  one  of  my  artist's 
sketches. 


Job.  Of  course  there  are  anglers  who  are  not  less  verdant 
than  the  hunters  ? 

Nes.  Anglers! — hand  me  that  ale,  I'm  dry,  talking  so 
much — Why  it  does  not  require  angling  to  catch  Lake 
Trout,  for  in  trolling  the  guide  rows  you  over  the  fish,  and 
when  one  lays  hold  you  must  reel  him  in  and  take  him  off  as 
a  matter  of  course.     If  you  fish  the  rapids  when  the  Brook 


I>I«8    PISCATOKIa. 


667 


Trout  are  there,  or  stop  at  the  mouth,  of  aorae  of  the  cool 
br^k,  where  they  co.leet  ae  the  ™m™r  advances,  y  u  h.v 

heir  hilhT  """  "Tr  ''""■  ""•'  '^-  ^  ™  P™-   »« 
their  hitching  on,  and  then  a  ,„«„  who  catches  a  basket  fnlT 

may  be  an  angler,  or  a  raere  fisherman 

on^-tkefrtthi"  ';:t  '^^  '"^^''™  -"^""^^ 

;-  a.  ConroyrZ  oL^f^. rit" 
What,  are  you  a  fishermflT.  ?"  a„jj  *i,  ,  ^"ppea   in. 

nsherman  ?   said  the  good  man,  in  surprise 
No,  I  am  an  angler,"  replied  the  Doctor      "  WpH      w 
the  difference  *>"  »aVo^  ^u  •  °^^°^-        ^«'^  what  is 

to  Mr  r  \  '  'l^'"''-     '^^^  ^«°t«r  referred  him 

to  M.  Conroy  (so  goes  the  story)  for  an  explanation.   "  Wh  " 

d  tr'  T''""':  '-''-'-'y  ^i^^i"g  between  his  tr^b 
and  forefinger  the  two  dollar  note  that  the  Doctor  had  laid 
on  the  counter,  and  dropping  it  into  the  till  as  if  i t  w  n 
contam  nate  him—"  An  an„i      c-  '  *  ^^^"^^ 

anific,  fi ,  an,  he  j^.  mosjiy  a  ;:L:::e;irvr:„:! 

man.    A  fisherman,  S.r,  uses  any  kind  of  'ooks  and  l"^ 
and  ^.ches  them  any  way,  so  he  gets  them  it's  all  one  to ^ 

gunner       The  man  smiled,  and  looked  at  the  Doctor  inonir 
."gly,  to  see  if  he  endorsed  the  distinction  drawn  by  m" 

JOE^  Speaking  of  distinguished  gentlemen,  who  is  Mr 
Jack  Dade  that  talks  about  "pi.i^nantirrief?"    T  u\l 
whoi„,„i,ed  "Who  is  thel;M:Da;:  L  .;^^^^™^ 
alluded  to  so  often  in  his  sermon?"  "  "'""'^' 


668 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Nes.   The  same,  though  a  very  diflferent  kind  of  person 
from  the  one  you  may  have  in  your  mind's  eye ;  besides,  he  is 
not  "  Mister,"  he  is  Major  Jack  Dade.  He  is  or  was,  for  I  don't 
know  that  he  is  alive  now,  one  of  "the  first  gentlemen  of  Vir- 
ginia, sir" ;  a  relic  of  that  ancient  order  who  were  the  last  to 
leave  off  blue  coat,  buff  waistcoat,  and  drab  trousers ;  who 
were  "aufaif  in  politics  and  card-playing,  bacon,  mutton, 
Madeira,  and  old  whiskey;  and  could  tell  you  the  pedigree  of 
every  race-horse  between  tide-water  and  Blue  Ridge ;  besides 
being  pretty  well  satisfied  with  their  own  pedigree.  Jack  was 
one  of  them ;  but  with  all  his  early  advantages,  as  his  father 
used  to  say  of  him,  "  he  couldn't  take  larningy     Major  Dade 
was  a  captain  at  the  battle  of  Bladensburg,  "  sir."    General 
Winder  sent  him  with  his  company  through  an  extensive 
cornfield  to  reconnoitre  the  British  brig  Vulture,  then  lying 
in  the  Potomac,  and  he  would  have  made  a  successful  recon- 
noissance  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  panic  which  seized  his 
militia.    In  telling  the  story.  Major  Jack  say.-*  they  thought 
they  heard  the  British  troops  stealing  upon  them,  when  it 
was  only  the  north-west  wind  rustling  the  dry  tops  of  the 
"  kaun,^^  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  when  they  ran,  he  had  to 
follow  them,  "sir."    The  major  is  opposed  to  all  kinds  of  inno- 
vations, especially  improved  farming  and  imported  cattle.  He 
condemns  short   horns  and  Berkshire  hogs,  affirming  posi- 
tively that  there  is  no  bacon  so  good  as  that  made  from  an 
old-fashioned  "  fiddle-faced  hog  " 

Nor.  I  think  I  saw  him  onuj  at  the  town  of  Warrenton, 
and  that  he  came  with  Charley  Randolph,  another  old  relic, 
in  a  coach  and  four;  though,  by  the  b,-.  the  ;;.)io  which  was 
a  little  the  wor.se  for  wear,  had  but  three  horses  to  it,  and 
there  was  a  calf-skin  stretched  across  the  back  of  the  coach 
(the  tail  hanging  down)  to  keep  out  the  weather.  The  old  gen- 
tleman struck  me  as  being  fond  of  a  noise,  for  I  never  saw  a 


DIES    PISOATORI^. 


669 


man  crack  a  whip  like  him,  or  respond  as  loudly  in  church. 
What  story  was  that  Sam  Chilton  told  us  of  Jack  Dade,  inter- 
rupting  Charley  at  his  morning  devotions? 

Nks.   Sam  was  always  telling  stories  about  somebody.    I 
suppose  you  refer  to  what  occurred  once  when  Jack  stayed  at 
Charley's  all  night.     The  host  next  morning,  like  a  good 
churchman,  was  reading  prayers  to  the  collected  household 
and  Jack,  who  got  up  a  little  too  late,  entered  the  dining' 
room  without  noticing  the  devotional  attitude  of  the  family 
but  seeing  the  bunch  of  min^  the  sugar-bowl,  and  decanter 
set  out  as  usual,  made  a  straight  line  for  the  sideboard.  When 
Charley,  seeing  his  mistake,  raised  his  eyes  from  the  book 
and  said,  "Hold  on,  Jack.  I'll  join  you  preser.tly."    The  ser- 
vice  over,  the  julep  followed  as  a  matter  of  course. 

Nor.  Speaking  of  Sam  Chilton,  your  continual  digressions 
remind  me  of  a  reply  he  made  to  a  speech  of  Henry  A.  Wise, 
at  a  Virginia  State  Convention,  some  years  ago.    In  debating 
some  question,  Wise  sat  down  after  a  fiery  speech,  in  which 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  declamation,  and  very  little  logic   Sam 
rose,  and  takin.  ^  an  old  quid  from  his  mouth,  and  dropping,  it 
softly  on  the  floor,  said  he  had  asked  Mr.  Wise  for  argumlnt, 
and  he  gave  him  only  words;  for  facts,  and  he  had  given  him' 
declamation.     The   gentleman's   speech    reminded   him   of 
Falstaff's  tavern-bill,   "Sack,   five   shillings  and  sixpence; 
bread,  a  half-penny."    I  have  asked  you  to  tell  us  about  fish- 
ing in  the  Adirondacks,  but  you  have  told  us  very  little 
about  it,  and  talked  of  almost  anything  else.     What    was 
the  greatest  number  and  weight  offish  you  killed  in  a  day  ? 

Nes.   You  led  me  into  this  digression  yourself,  by  your     ' 
confounded  questions.     I  have  already  said  that  I  was  there 
ut  an  unflivorable  time  for  fishing.     Trolling  in  the  lakes  is 
over  by  the  middle  of  June,  and  the  Brook  Trout  have  gene- 
rally  left  the  rapids  by  that  time.     I  have  been  told,  though, 


560 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


that  thirty  pounds  have  been  taken  by  a  single  rod  in  the 
rapids  on  the  Raquotte  in  a  forenoon  in  the  latter  part  of 
May,  and  as  much  as  fifty  pounds  in  the  outlet  of  the  Lower 
Saranac,  where  Bodgers  and  Cold  Brook  come  in. 
Job.   What  was  the  size  of  the  largest  you  killed? 
Nbs.   I  did  not  take  any  that  exceeded  a  pound  and  a  half. 
The  largest  I  caught  were  at  the  mouths  of  Bodgers  and  Cold 
Urook,  where  they  come  into  the  outlet.     Our  friend  H  K  B 
killed  fish  a  few  days  after  at  the  mouths  of  some  sprin. 
brooks  that  come  into  the  Baquette.  below  Fish  Hawk  and 
Setting.Pole  Rapids,  that  weighed  over  two  pounds.    He  was 
not  as  successful  at  the  mouth  of  Bog  River,  which  tumbles 
m  at  the  upper  end  of  Tupper's  Lake,  where  he  had  such  fine 
sport  five  or  six  years  ago;  but  that  was  in  September,  when 
the  Trout  collect  again  in  the  rapids,  after  having,  deserted 
them  during  the  heat  of  summer.    There  were  several  parties 
encamped  at  Tupper's  Lake  in  the  early  part  of  last  June  and 
those  who  fished  with  the  fly  had  fine  sport  at  Bog  River 
Falls,  while  those  who  trolled,  took  Lake  Trout  as  large  as 
ten  and  twelve  pounds. 

Job.   How  do  you  get  into  the  Baquette  River  from  Mar- 
tins? 

Nbs.   Hand  me  that  pocket-map,  and  I'll  show  you     You 
see  there  are  three  lakes,  they  are  all  connected  by  a  stream 
of  moderate  size ;  the  eastern  is  the  Lower  Saranac,  the  south- 
ern, Round  Lake,  and  the  western,  the  Upper  Saranac.    You 
observe,  also,  that  there  are  three  ponds  still  further  west  • 
these  are  the  Stony  Creek  Ponds,  and  from  one  of  them  a' 
small  stream  of  the  same  name  flows,  with  gentle  current  into 
the  Raquette.     The  first  portage  or  "carry"  is  at  the  upper 
end  of  the  Lower  Saranac,  about  six  miles  from  Martin's-  the 
next  at  the  outlet  of  the  Upper  Saranac,  three  or  four  miles 
further  on;  and  the  last  is  between  the  western  side  of  the 


DIK8    PISCATORIJB. 


set 


getting  Tli7        ^       "'■'"""■  ''"P'"8  "'"''=■■  "  'oof,  ami 
geuing  a  good  supper,  you  will  aim,  „t  q.    i,       w 

H.  K.  B.  killed  a  Trn„.    f  ^  ""^  ^^^"^  ^"^l^ 

by.    When  you  ememe  ilto  ,r  p  "^'^  ^"^  P"^' 

™.e,  fro™  winiarsr   """"" '""  °"  '"""'^  ■ 

The  Raquette  is  a  quiet,  dark  river  wifl,  „ 

-  - .. , ,.  ,\,,, ,  ^z:::;:^;^ 

and  flows  north  mto  the  St.  Lawrenee,  above  Lake  St  T 
It  «  about  fifteen  ™iles  fr„„  the  e„t  an^  of  stn  ',f  T"' 
Tuppe.3  Lake,  which  eonneetswith  tZZtZi^'^  '" 
outlet.    If  you  are  no.  p.pared  to  ca.np  ou^u   an'Z 
aocon,™«,at,ons  at  Stetson',  „„  the  Baquett,  about  two 
miles  this  side  of  the  lake. 

Tupper's  Lake  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  with  pretty 
islands,  but  vou  havp  n^t  *i.^       i     j-,      .  preuy 

peaks  of  fhP T^-     T  T  'P^'"^'^  ^^"^  ^^  *^«  «harp 

P  rt  of  tV   T  ^'"l^'^^^'^'  -^-h  ^-  get  from  almost  any 
part  of  the  I^^ver  Saranac,  for  you  have  passed  to  the  west 
and  beyond  that  range  of  mountains  ' 

36 


I 


I 


562 


AMBRICAM    AlfOLBR'8    BOOK. 


Thia  region  of  country  is  much  frequented  by  artists,  and 
some  fine  pictures  f  real  and  supposed  scenes  in  the  Adiron- 
d/M  ka  hav'^  been  painted.  ()  niy  return  home,  I  had  the 
agree.able  company,  for  the  gixater  part  of  the  way,  of  our 
young  sculptor  friend  Q.  W.  and  his  wife.  They  had  gone 
in  from  Crown  Point,  and  came  down  Long  Lake  and  the 
Raqtictte  to  Stony  Brook,  and  then  by  way  of  the  Saranacs  to 
Martin's,  loitering  on  the  way,  the  trip  occupying  about  ten 

days. 

Joe.   Are  there  any  other  fish  of  the  Salmon  family  in  the 
Adirondacks  besides  Lake  and  Brook  Trout? 

Nks.   There  is  a  species  of  Goregonus,  or  Whiteflsh,  in  the 
Saranacs,  similar  to  those  known  as  Lake  Herring  in  the  larger 
lakes.     I  did  not  see  any  of  them,  but  was  told  that  their 
average  size  is  not  over  eight  inches,  which  is  even  smaller 
than  the  Laverett  and  Gwynaid  taken  in  the  lakes  of  Scot- 
land.    They  do  not  rise  at  a  fly,  however,  or  take  a  bait. 
When  we  made  the  short  portage  on  the  stream  connecting 
'  the  Lower  Saranac  with  Round  Lake,  my  guide  pointed  out 
an  eddy  below  the  rapid,  where,  he  said,  he  has  taken  five  or 
six  barrels  of  them  in  a  few  days,  with  a  "lift-net,"  when 
they  collect  there  to  spawn,  which  is  in  November.     They 
are  sent  to  market  frozen,  and  are  highly  esteemed  for  their 
delicate  flavor.     I  have  never  heard  of  these  fish  being  taken 
in  the  lakes  of  Hamilton  County,  or  in  those  that  connect 
with  the  Raquette. 

Nor.  I  thought  all  the  fish  of  the  Salmon  Umiy  \i..ald 

take  a  bait  or  rise  at  a  fly. 

Nk9.  By  no  means ;  you  confound  the  family  Salmonidse 
V  !;  xhe  genus  Salvxo.  The  Salmon  is  the  type  of  t!.e  family 
HB  <r\  J  t^'  -  genus.  All  that  belong  to  the  genus  Salmo 
fcrt  vr  vC.  /-s  fish;  b"t  the  genus  known  as  Goregonus  which 


DIES    PISCATORIli, 


668 


embrnces  all  the  Whitefish-lar  'e  and  8n,J)--and  of  which 
this  littlo  fish  ia  a  spocies,  are  not  predatory;  they  are  peace- 
able dwellers  in  the  deeps  of  th6  lakes,  except  in  the  month 
of  November,  wlum  they  come  into  the  rapids  to  spawn. 
Great  numbers  of  them  are  no  doubt  devoured  in  the  lakes 
by  the  large  Lake  Trout. 

Job.    Why  did  you  not  take  u  tent  and  camp  out,  instead 
of  sl.-eping  under-roof,  after  leaving  Martins? 

Nes.  As  Walter  was  lame  it  was  more  convenient  to  sleep 
on  bods,  and  unless  these  are  buggy,  as  they  frequently  are 
m  the  houses  of  the  settlers,  I  prefer  sleeping  in-doors.  It  is 
always  necessary  to  camp  out,  when  you  wish  to  enjoy  all 
the  advantages  of  a  favorite  hunting-station,  and  then  it  is 
well  to  be  provided  with  a  mosquito-net  if  you  go  before 
August;  after  that  time  you  are  not  annoyed  with  black  flies, 
and  there  are  then  but  few  mosquitos. 

Joe.  So  you  think  camping  out  is  not  so  much  a  matter 
of  comfort  as  of  sentiment,  as  you  call  it  I 

Nks.   It  is  like  angling—with  some  persons  a  mere  matter 
of  fancy.   Washington  Irving,  in  one  of  his  sketches,  describes 
a  fishing  party,  which  included   himself;   these  gentlemen 
thought  they  were  in  love  with  angling,  from  reading  Isaac 
Walton,  forgetting  that  like  "reading  and  writing,"  as  Dog- 
berry  says,  it  "comes  by  nature."    They  provided  themselves 
with  Trout-rods,  reels,  artificial  flies,  &c.,  and  started.     After 
poking  through  the  bushes  and  floundering  along  a  rough 
little  mountain  stream  all  day.  and  damaging  their  fine  tackle 
without  catching  any  fish,  and  having  "satisfied  the  senti- 
ment,"  they  met  with  a  country  lad,  his  trousers  rolled  up. 
an  alder-pole  with  its  rough  horsehair  line  in  one  hand,  and 
in  the  other  a  liandsomo  string  of  Trout. 

JOK.    "Some    men    are   born    great"- there   are   natural 


564 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


anglers  and  natural  hunters ;  but  "  what  boots  it."  who  have 
we  here,  sitting  on  a  stump  ? 

Nks.   That  is  a  natural  hunter,  my  young  guide,  Reubeu 
Reynolds,  watching  for  deer. 


re 


}ij 


FLY-FISHJNG  ALONE. 


"To  him  who  in  the  love  of  iiuture  holds 
Communion  with  her  visible  foruia,  slie  speaks 
A  various  language ;  for  his  gayer  liuiiis, 
•?lio  has  a  voice  of  gladness,  and  u  smile, 
And  eloiiuence  of  beauty,  and  she  glides 
Into  his  darlier  musings,  with  a  mild 
And  healing  symiiafliy,  that  steals  away 
Their  sharpness  ere  he  is  aware." 

Brtant. 


FLY-FISHING  iiLONE. 
sensation  it  p„Le™  fa    ';  ""^   "^  ™8ler,   however,  the 

This  is  wliv  h^  1  "^^'^^  ^^  *^ie  mountain  torrent. 

-/pi-; '::rr:tr :;--.» 

usual  haunts  of  „e„,  ,„a  wander  alone  bv   he   t  ""' 

Ms  flies  over  its  bright  waters  ■  orVnt     ,  '  '^''"^ 

'1-  unruffled  surfa^  oHh     in  a        't  """ '° ''"" 

e-s  to  his  ear  but  the  wiid  :'";  *;:  7  ^~1 
where  no  human  form  is  seen  but  hi,  '  ""*' 

glassj  water.  '"'  """■  '"'""'^^  i"  the 

dara-U^hl^e^f :  t ,  ■  ^  ""'^f '^  '"^^  "'  '^^^  -  -"^^  ^ 

anoe  of  resources  within  hin.elf  t  "e  t  al    d  /7'  """■ 
may  arise.  difficulties  that 

roator:a::.:;:hZ;:::rh;::rb"'^  --  ''-^ 

summer  before.     When  he  «on=  t         .         ,  '      "'" 

ing."  he  recalls  tl.;  1.1  .        '^         ■■'"  "'  ""^  "  >"U'i  ele.,r. 

h-e„,  ofte  iirtriZu^r; ""  ?  "-^  -^  '™- 
— -^"vedonttoti:?^^::-^:,:::;: 

(507) 


,'  ,|j 


lir'i'F 


■iil 
if 


668 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


ruminates  on  the  extinction,  or  silent  removal  of  these  child- 
ren of  the  forest,  he  may  think  of  the  simple  eloquent  words 
of  the  chief  to  his  companions,  the  last  he  uttered  :  "I  will 
die,  and  you  will  go  home  to  your  people,  and,  as  you  go 
along,  you  will  see  the  flowers,  and  hear  the  birds  sing ;  but 
Pushmuttaha  will  see  them  and  hear  them  no  more;  and 
when  you  come  to  your  people  they  will  say,  'Where  is  Push- 
muttaha?' and  you  will  say,  'He  is  dead:'  then  will  your 
words  come  upon  them,  like  the  falling  of  the  great  oak  in  the 
stillness  of  the  woods.'''' 

As  he  resumes  his  walk  and  crosses  the  little  brook  that 
"  goes  singing  by,"  he  remembers  what  he  has  read  of  the 
Turks,  who  built  their  bowers  by  the  falling  water,  that  they 
might  be  lulled  by  its  music,  as  they  smoked  and  dreamed  of 
Paradise.  But  when  the  hoarse  roar  of  the  creek,  where  it 
surges  against  the  base  of  the  crag  it  has  washed  for  ages, 
strikes  his  ear,  or  he  hears  it  brawling  over  the  big  stones,  his 
step  quickens,  and  his  pulse  beats  louder— he  is  ro  true 
angler  if  it  does  not— and  he  is  not  content  until  he  gets  a 
glimpse  of  its  bright  rushing  waters  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

Come  forth,  my  little  rod—"  a  better  never  did  itself  support 
upon"  an  anglers  urw,— and  let  us  rig  up  here  on  this  pebbly 
shore!  The  rings  are  in  a  line,  and  now  with  this  bit  of 
waxed  silk  we  take  a  few  hitches  backward  and  forward  over 
the  little  wire  loops  which  point  in  opposite  directions  at  the 
ends  of  the  ferules,  to  keep  the  joints  from  coming  apart ;  for 
it  would  be  no  joke  to  throw  the  upper  part  of  the  rod  out  of 
the  butt  ferule,  and  have  it  sailing  down  some  strong  rift. 
The  reel  is  on  underneath,  and  not  on  top,  as  those  Bass- 
fishers  have  it,  who  are  always  talking  of  Fire  Island,  New- 
port, and  Narragansett  Bay. 

What  shall  my  whip  be  ?  The  water  is  full,  I'll  try  a  red 
hackle,  its  tail  tipped  with  gold  tinsel ;  for  my  dropper,  I'll 


DIBS    PISCAT0R1\«! 


669 


put  on  a  good  sized  coachman  with  lead-colored  wings,  and 
as  soon  as  I  get  a  few  handsful  of  grass,  to  throw  in  the 
bottom  of  my  creel,  I'll  button  on  my  landing-net  and  cross 
over,  with  the  help  of  this  stick  of  drift-wood,  for  it  is  pretty 
strong  wading  just  here.     Do  you  sea  that  rift,  and  the  flat 
rock  at  the  lower  end  of  it  which  just  comes  above  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  and  divides  the  stream  as  it  rushes  into  the 
pool  below?     There's  fishing  in  rift  and  pool  both;  so  I'll 
begin  at  the  top  of  the  rift,  if  I  can  get  through  these  alders. 
Go  in,  my  little  rod,  point  foremost;  T  would  not  break  thnt 
tip  at  this  time  to  save  the  hair  on  my  head ;— hold !  that 
twig  has  caught  my  dropper— easy,  now,— all  clear— through 
the  bushes  at  last. 

When  I  was  here  last  July,  and  fished  the  pool  below,  there 
was  no  rift  above,  the  water  hardly  came  above  my  ankles; 
now  it  is  knee-deep ;  if  there  was  less  it  would  be  better  for  the 
pool ;  but  it  makes  two  casts  now,  where  there  was  only  one 
last  summer,  and  I  have  no  doubt  there  is  a  pretty  fellow  by 
the  margin  of  the  strong  water,  on  this  side  of  the  rock,— an 
easy  cast,  too,— just  about  eight  yards  from  the  end  of  my 
tip.    Not  there— a  little  nearer  the  rock.     What  a  swirl !    He 
did  not  show  more  than  his  back  ;  but  he  has  my  hackle.     I 
had  to  strike  him,  too,  for  he  took  it  under  water  like  a  bait— 
they  will  do  so  when  the  stream  is  full.     Get  out  of  that  cur- 
rent, my  hearty,  and  don't  be  flouncing  on  top,  bui  keep  un- 
derneath, and  deport  yourself  like  an  honest,  fail    fighter ! 
There  you  are,  now,  in  slack  water ;  you  can't  last  long,  tug- 
ging  at  this  rate ;  so  come  along,  to  my  landing-net ;  it's  no 
use  shaking  your  head  at  me !     What  a  shame  to  thrust  my 
thumb  under  that  rosy  gill !  but  there  is  no  help  for  it,  for 
you  might  give  me  the  slip  as  I  take  the  hook  out  of  your 
mouth,  and  thrust  you,  tail-foremost,  into  the  hole  of  my  creel. 
You  are  my  first  fish,  and  you  know  you  are  my  luck;  so  I 


n 


i»i 


570 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


would  not  lose  you  even  if  you  were  a  little  fellow  of  seven 
inches,  instead  of  a  good  half-pound.  I  imbibed  that  super- 
stition, not  to  throw  away  my  first  fish,  when  I  was  a  boy, 
iind  have  never  got  rid  of  it.  Now,  tumble  about  as  much  as 
you  please  ;  you  have  the  whole  basket  to  yourself. 

Another  cast — there  aught  to  be  more  fish  there.  lie  rose 
short, — a  little  longer  line — three  feet  more  will  do  it— ex- 
actly so.  Gently,  my  nine-incher  1  Take  the  spring  of  the  rod 
for  a  minute  or  so — here  you  are !  Once  more,  now.  How 
the  "young  'un"  jum^w !  I'll  throw  it  to  him  until  he  learns 
to  catch  ;  there,  he  has  it.  No  use  reeling  in  a  chap  of  your 
size,  but  come  along,  band-over-hand ;  I'll  release  you.  Go, 
now,  and  don't  rise  at  a  fly  again  until  you  are  over  nine 

inches. 

Not  a  fly  on  the  water !  So  I  have  nothing  to  imitate,  even 
if  imitation  were  necessary.  Take  care!  that  loose  stone 
almost  threw  me.  I'll  work  my  way  across  the  current,  and 
get  under  the  lee  of  that  boulder,  and  try  each  side  of  the 
rift  where  it  runs  into  the  pool  below  the  flat  rock.  Not  a 
fish  in  the  slack  water  on  this  side  •  they  are  looking  for  grub 
and  larv,^  in  the  rift.  Now,  how  would  you  like  my  coach- 
man, by  way  of  a  change  of  diet  ?     There's  a  chance  for  you 

try  it.     Bosh  I  he  missed  it ;  but  he  is  not  pricked.     Once 

more.  Oh,  ho  I  is  it  there  you  are,  my  l>eauty  ?  Don't  tear 
that  dropper  oft'.  Hold  him  tight,  O'Shaughnessy ;  you  are 
the  greatest  hook  ever  invented.  How  he  runs  the  line  out, 
and  plays  off  into  the  swift  water !  It  would  be  rash  to  check 
l-.im  now ;  but  I'll  give  him  a  few  feet,  and  edge  him  over 
to  the  side  of  the  rift  where  there  is  slack  water.  That's  bet- 
ter ;  now  tug  away,  while  I  recover  some  of  my  line.  You 
are  off  into  the  current  again,  arj  you?  but  not  so  wicked. 
The  click  on  this  reel  is  too  weak,  by  half— he  gives  in 
now,  and  is  coning  along,  like  an  amiable,  docile  fish,  as  he 


DIE8   PISCATOttI 


M. 


671 


.».  Wh.zl  «rhy,  what',  the  matter,  now?  Has  "the  devil 
kicked  htm  on  end?"  as  my  friend  with  the  " tarry  breeks" 
has  It  He  has  taken  but  two  or  three  yards  of  line,  though 
How  he  hugs  the  bottom,  and  keeps  the  main  channel  I  Well' 
to  can  t  last  much  longer.  Here  he  comes  now,  with  a  heavJ 
drag,  and  a  d,stressi„g  strain  on  my  middle  joint;  and  now 
I  .ee  h.m  d.mly,  as  I  get  him  into  the  eddy;  but  there's 
somethmgtuggmg  a.  the  tail.fly.    Yes,  I  have  a  brace  of 

Irirt    T  r""''  '"  *"  '''^'  ^^''^  "»''  *^  «'"bbor„ 
groping  for  the  botton,.     What  a  clever  way  of  trolling  1  to 

get  an  obhg,„g  Trout  to  take  your  dropper,  and  go  sa  lin! 
around  w«h  four  feet  of  gut,  and  a  handsome  stretcher  at  th: 

lucky  fellow  hooks  htmself  in  the  side  of  his  mouth.    How 

shall  I  get  the  pair  into  my  basket?    There  is  no  way  but 

reeUng  close  up,  and  getting  the  lower  one  into  my  net  firs, 

nd  Aen  wth  another  dip  to  secure  the  fish  on  the  droppe,^: 

but  u  must  be  done  gently.    So-well  done;  threcqnart  ^ 

of  a  pound  to  be  credited  to  the  dropper,  and  a  half.pl,nd  to 

he  stretcher-toul,  one  pound  and  a  quarter.    That  will  d„ 

or  the  present.   So  I'll  sit  down  on  that  flat  rock  and  light  my 

dudeen,  and  try  the  remainder  of  the  water  presently     FU 

CtZ;:: '"' '-'-  *-- '--  "^"■"-"^  «^"  "'f-  ^ 

These  are  som.  of  the  incidents  that  the  lone  fly.fisher 

ZsTeT  °7f"r"«  ''»^'  -^  ""=  *eams  and  anticipa- 
,.ons  he  has  .ndulged  ,n  through  the  long  gloomy  winter  are 
..par  reahzed.    -Beal  joy,"  some  one  has  said,  L  «  a  seriou 
'h.ng,»  and  the  solitary  angler  proves  it  conclusively  to  h  m 
self.    He  .s  not  tmubled  that  some  ardent  youn.  brotherTf 
■>.e  rod  may  fish  ahead  of  him,  and  disturb  L  ^ate      ito 
™,hng  h,mself  of  all  the  chances;  or  that  a  more  dis  re 
compamon  may  pass  by  some  of  the  pools  and  rifts  withou 


572 


AMERICAN    ANOLKR'8    BOOK. 


bestowing  the  attention  on  them  they  deserve;  but  in  perfect 
quietude,  and  confidence  in  his  ability  to  meet  every  conUn- 
gency  that  may  occur,  he  patiently  and  leisurely  tries  all  the 
places  that  offer  fair.     What  if  he  does  get  hung  up  m  a 
projecting  branch  of  some  old  elm.  that  leans  over  the  water? 
he  does  not  swear  and  jerk  his  line  away,  and  leave  his  flies 
dan.^ling  there-it  is  a  difficulty  that  will  bring  into  play  his 
inge°nuity.  and  perhaps  his  dexterity  in  climbing,  and  he  sets 
about  recovering  his  flies  with  the  same  patient  steadiness  of 
purpose   that   Caesar  did   in   building   his  bridge,   or  that 
possessed  Bonaparte  in  crossing  the  Alps,  and  feels  as  much 
satisfaction  as  either  of  those  great  generals,  in  accomplish- 

ing  his  ends. 

If  he  takes  "an  extraordinary  risk."  as  underwriters  call  it, 
in  casting  under  boughs  that  hang  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
water,  on  the  opposite  side  of  some  unwadeable  rift  or  pool, 
and  his  stretcher  should  fasten  itself  in  a  tough  twig,  or  his 
dropper  grasp  the  stem  of  an  obstinate  leaf,  he  does  not  give 
it  up  in  despair,  or,  consoling  himself  with  the  idea  that  he 
has  plenty  of  flies  and  leaders  in  his  book,  pull  away  and 
leave  his  pet  spinner  and  some  favorite  hackle  to  hang  there 
as  a  memento  of  his  temerity  in  Casting  so  near  the  bushes. 
Far  from  it;  he  draws  sufficient  line  off  his  reel  and  through 
the  rincrs  to  give  slack  enough  to  lay  his  rod  down,  marking 
well  where  his  flies  have  caught,  and  finds  some  place  above 
or  below  where  he  can  cross;  then  by  twisting  with  a  forked 
stick  or  drawing  in  the  limb  with  a  hooked  one,  he  releases 
his  leader,  and  throws  it  clear  off  into  the  water,  that  he  may 
re-ain  it  when  he  returns  to  his  rod,  and  reels  in  his  line ;  or 
he°outs  it  off  and  lay  i  it  carefully  in  his  fly-book,  and  then 
recrosses  the  river.   A  fig  for  the  clearing-ring  and  rod-scythe 
and  all  such  cockney  contrivances,  he  never  cumbers  his 
pockets  with  them.     Suppose  he  does  break  his  rod-he  sits 


DIRg    PISCATORI/B. 


678 


patiently  down  and  splices  it.  If  the  fracture  is  a  compound 
one.  and  it  would  shorten  the  piece  too  much  to  splice  it,  he 
resorts  to  a  sailor's  device,  and  fahea  the  stick,  by  binding  a 
couple  of  flat  pieces  of  hard  wood  on  each  side. 

Captain  Marryatt,  in  one  of  his  books,  says,  a  man's  whole 
litotime  is  spent  in  getting  into  scrapes  and  getting  out  of 
tnem.  This  is  very  much  the  case  with  the  fly-fisher,  and  he 
nnould  always  curb  any  feeling  of  haste  or  undue  excitement, 
remembering  at  such  times,  that  if  he  loses  his  temper  he  is 
apt  to  lose  his  fish,  and  sometimes  his  tackle  also. 

My  neighbor  asked  me  once  if  Trout-fishing  was  not  a  very 
unhealthy  amusement— he  thought  a  man  must  frequently 
have  damp  feet.  Well,  it  is,  I  answered ;  but  if  he  gets  wet 
up  to  his  middle  at  the  outset,  and  has  reasonable  luck,  there  is 

uo  healthier  recreation. But  I  have  sat  here  long  enough. 

Ill  fill  my  pipe  again  and  try  the  head  of  that  swift  water— 
If  this  confounded  war  lasts  a  year  longer  "Lynchburg"  will 
go  up  to  three  dollars  a  pound,  but  it  will  be  cheap  then 
compared  with  those  soaked  and  drugged  segars  that  are 
imposed  upon  us  for  the  "Simon- Pure,"  under  so  many  cap- 
tivating names.    At  all  events  this  is  what  it  professes  to  be, 

good  homely  tobac Whe-e-euh!  What  a  dash  I  and  how 

strong  and  steady  he  pulls;  some  old  fellow  "with  moss  on 
his  back,"  from  under  that  log,  no  doubt  of  it.  Is  it  line  you 
want?— take  it,  eight— ten-fifteen  feet— but  no  more  if  you 
please.  How  he  keeps  the  middle  of  the  rift !  Don't  tell  me 
about  the  "grace  of  the  curve,"  and  all  that  sort  of  thing;  if 
the  bend  of  this  rod  isn't  the  line  of  beauty  I  never  saw  it 
before,  except  of  course  in  the  outline  of  a  woman's  drapery. 
Speaking  of  lines,  I'll  get  a  little  of  this  in  as  I  lead  the  fellow 
down  stream,  even  at  the  risk  of  disturbing  the  swim  below. 
It  is  the  best  plan  with  a  large  fish ;  I  have  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy's  authority  for  it,  although  I  believe  with  Fisher,  of  the 


674 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


"  Angler'*  Souvenir,"  that  he  was  more  of  a  philosopher  than 
an  angler.     Talk  of  "dressing  for  dinner,"  when  the  fish  are 
rising !    Steady  and  slow,  my  boy,  you  are  giving  in  at  last- 
two  pounds  and  a  half  or  not  an  ounce  1  now  I  see  you  "as 
through  a  glass,  darkly"-a  little  nearer,  my  beauty-Bah ! 
what  a  fool  I  am!  here  a  fish  of  a  half-pound  ha.s  hooked 
himself  amidship,  and  of  course  offeri,,  .•  five  times  the  resist- 
ance he  would  if  fairly  hooked  in  the  mouth,  and  no  damage 
to  his  breathing   apparatus  while  fighting,  either;   for  he 
keeps  his  wind  all   the  while.     If  he  had  been  regularly 
harnessed,  he  could  not  have  pulled  with  more  advantage  to 
himself  and  greater  danger  to  my  tackle  in  this  rough  Wf.ter. 
I  thought  I  had  been  deceived  in  this  way  -ften  enough  to 
know  when  a  fish  was  hooked  foul. 

Now  I  call  it  strong  wading  coming  down  through  that 
dark  ravine;  I  must  take  a  rest  and  put  on  a  fresh  dropper. 
And  so  my  friend  asked  me  if  it  was  not  vc-v  lonesome,  fish- 
ing by  myself.     Why  these  little  people  of  the  woods  are 
much  better  company  than  folks  who  continually  bore  you 
with  the  weather,  and  the  state  of  their  stomachs  or  livers, 
and  what  they  ate  for  breakfast,  or  the  price  of  gold,  or  the 
stock-market,  when  you   have  forgotten  whether  you  have 
a  liver  or  not,  and  don't  care  the  toss  of  a  penny  what  the 
price  of  gold   is;   or  whether  "Reading"  is  up   or   down. 
Lonesome  !-It  was  only  just  now  the   red   squirrel   came 
down  the  limb  of  that  birch,  whisking  his  bushy  tail,  and 
chattering  almost  in  my  face.     The  mink,  as  he  snufted  the 
fish-tainted  air  fiom  my  old  creel,  came  out  from  his  hole 
amongst  the  rocks  and  ran  along  within  a  few  feet  of  me. 
Did  he  take  my  old  coat  to  be  a  part  of  this  rock,  covered 
with  lichens  and  gray  mosses?     I  recollect  once  in  the  diu 
twilight  of  evening,  a  doe  with  her  fawns  came  down  to  the 
stream  to  drink;  I  had  the  wind  of  her,  and  could  see  into 


DIBS   PISCAT0RIJ5. 


675 


her  great  motherly  eyes  as  she  raised  her  head.     A  moment 
Hince  the  noisy  king-fisher  poised  himself  on  the  dead  branch 
of  the  hemlock,  over  my  left  shoulder,  as  if  he  would  peep 
into  the  hole  of  my  fish-basket.     The  little  warbler  san..  in 
the  alders  close  by  my  old  felt  hat,  as  if  he  would  burst"  his 
swelling  throat  with  his  loud  glad  song.     Did  either  of  them 
iaiow  that  I  am  of  a  race  whose  first  impulse  is  to  throw  a 
stone  or  shoot  a  gun  at   them?     And   the  sparrow-hawk 
on    that    leaflets    spray   extending   over   the   water,   sitting 
there  as  grave  and  dignified  as  a  bank  president  when  you 
ask  him  for  a  discount;  is  he  aware  that  I  can  tap  him  on 
the  head  with  the  tip  of  my  rod  ?_These  are  some  of  the 
simple  incidents  on  the   stream,   which  afterwards  awaken 
memories, 

"  That  like  voices  from  afar  off 
Call  to  us  to  pause  and  listen, 
Speak  in  tones  so  plain  and  childlike, 
Scarcely  can  the  ear  distinguish 
Whether  they  are  sung  or  spoken." 

But  I  must  start  for  the  open  water  below— What  a  glo 
rious  haze  there  is  just  now.  and  how  demurely  the  world's 
great  eye  peeps  through  it !  Trout  are  not  very  shy  though 
before  the  middle  of  May,  even  when  the  sun  is  bright  °  I 
have  sometimes  taken  my  best  fish  at  high  noon,  at  this 
season  of  the  year.-I  am  as  hungry  as  a  horsefly,  thou-di  it 
IS  only  "a  wee  short  hour  ayont  the  twal."  So  I'll  unslinc 
my  creel  by  that  big  sycamore,  and  build  my  fire  in  the 
hollow  of  it.  If  I  burn  it  down  there  will  be  no  action  for 
trespass  in  a  wooden  country  like  this. 

What  boys  are  those  crossing  the  foot-log?  I'll  press 
them  into  my  service  for  awhile,  and  make  them  brin-  wood 
for  my  fire.  I  know  them  now ;  the  larger  one  has  cause  to 
remember   me   "  with   tears   of  gratitude."   for  I   bestowed 


576 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


on  him  last  summer  a  score  of  old  flies,  a  used-up  lender, 
and  a  limp  old  nxl.  TIo  (jfTorod  mo  tlio  liberal  sum  of  two 
sliillings  for  the  very  implement  I  have  in  my  hand  now; 
and  to  buy  throe  flies  from  me  at  four  cents  apiece. — Halloo, 
Paul !  what  have  you  done  with  the  rod  I  gave  you — caught 
many  Trout  with  it  this  season  ?  Come  over  the  creek,  yuu 
and  your  brother,  and  get  me  some  dry  wood,  and  gather  a 
handful  or  two  of  the  furze  from  that  old  birch  to  light  it  with. 
I'll  give  you  a  pair  of  flies — real  gay  ones. 

Dining  alone  may  be  counted  almost  the  only  drawback  to 
one's  taking  a  day  to  himself,  and  you  are  glad  of  any  stray 
native  who  is  attracted  by  the  smoke  of  your  fire.  Your 
whiskey  is  beyond  a  perad venture,  better  than  he  has  in  liis 
cupboard  at  home:  he  is  invariably  out  of  tobacco — a  chew  or 
a  pipeful,  and  a  swig  at  your  flask,  will  make  him  communi- 
cative. If  he  has  not  already  dined,  he  will  readily  accept  a 
roasted  Trout  and  a  piece  of  bread  and  butter,  and  while  eat- 
ing will  post  you  as  to  all  the  Trout-streams  within  ten  miles. 


It  is,  therefore,  a  matter  of  policy  to  cultivate  the  good 
feeling  of  the  natives,  the  boys  especially,  as  stones  are 
of  very  convenient  size  along  the  creek  to  throw  at  a  surly 
fisherman.     A  few  of  "Conroy's  journal -flies,"  which  have 


0IB8   PinCAtORI, 


«T 


occap,„d  the  Lack  l„„ve,  uf  y„„r  fl^.b„„k  (or  lo„g  y„„™  .„ 

o.,r  you  ,„„„t  w..h,  will  a,k  you  .„  .,..|1  .,,o,n  "a  pa^r  of  fly. 
l-k»,    wh,oh  of  .our*  „,„„,  ,„  ^„„     i,.      ,,,^^  ;    «> 

-  «o  ...t  a.  a  li..,e  the  wor,o  fo,  wear  or  to!  gav  for  y™ 
own  use.  ®  "         /""^ 

If  the  fly.fi»her,  though,  would  have  ..»«,ie.y  where  none 
...ruue,"  or  ««=iety  that  ^U  intrude,  let  hi,„  Le  a  lad  "f 
e„  or  twelve  along  to  ea.y  hia  dinner,  and  to  relieve  hh 

cZ  to  thT'  '^'.™""''"""«  "-'  "f  ">e  content,  „f  hi, 
creel  to  the  empty  dmner-basket.  The  garrulity  and  oueer 
que,  .on,  o  a  country  boy  of  thi,  age  are  am«,ing,  when  you 

-crr,,.hi,,4;:;ii:ii^^^^^^^^^ 

It  there  z,  an  objection  to  a  Trout-roast  it  i.  th  . 
^U  too  ™uch,  and  feel,  ,„.y  ..er  dinner™!"!  :  Xr; 

What  pretty  bright  Tront  there  are  in 'thi,  bold  rookv 

wri'iirbatr:^,;™;:^"'''--- 
-™ared  ya.,  wide,  a  ^L'';::':;:i7z:zc 

Mf  of  .t,  depth,  and  three-fourth,  of  it,  width,  at  low  tide 
and  „  bank  full  on  .he  flood.  But  ,peckled  fello  vl  fke 
•lice     on't  l.ve  there.    De  Kay  n,„,t  have  received  ,  me 

name  of  ionUnah,,"  and  they  are  truly  the  Salmon  of  the 
.oantarn;  for  a  st^an.  like  thi,  and  i't,  little  tribuUrie,: 


578 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


whose  fountains  are  everywhere  amongst  these  rugged  hiila, 
are  their  proper  home.     What  an  ignorant  fellow  Poietes 
was  to  ask  Halieus  if  the  red  spots  on  a  Trout  were  not 
"marks  of  disease — a  hectic  kind  of  beauty?"     Any  boy 
along  the  creek  knows  better.     And  what  a  pedantic  old 
theorist  Sir  Humphrey  was,  to  tell  him  that  the  absence  of 
these  spots  was  a  sign  of  high  condition.    Well,  it  may  be  in 
England,  for  the  river  Trout  there,  are  a  different  species 
from  ours.    But  I'll  bet  my  old  rod  against  a  bob-fly  that 
there  is  twice  as  much  pluck  and  dash  in  our  little  fellows 
with  the  "hectic"  spots.  I  don't  wonder  that  Trout  like  these 
so  inspired  Mr.  Barnwell,  who  wrote  the  "Game  Fish  of 
the  North,"  when,  with  his  fancy  in  high  feather,  he  mounted 
his  Pegasus  and  went  oft^— "How  splendid  is  the  sport  to 
deftly  throw  the   long  line  and  small  fiy,  with  the  pliant 
single-handed  rod,  and  with  eye  and  nerve  on  the  strain,  to 
watch  the  loveliest  darling  of  the  wave,  the  spotted  naiad, 
dart  from  her  mossy  bed,  leap  high  into  the  air,  carrying  the 
strange  deception  in  her  mouth,  and,  turning  m  her  flight, 
plunge  back  to  her  crystal  home." 

Julius  Cwsarl  what  "high-flying"  Trout  this  gentleman 
must  have  met  with  in  his  time.  Now,  I  never  saw  a  Trout 
"  dart  from  her  mossy  bed,"  because  I  never  found  Trout  to 
lie  on  a  bed  of  that  sort ;  nor  "  leap  high  into  the  air,  and 
turning  in  her  flight  plunge  back,"  as  a  fish-hawk  does.  In 
fact,  I  may  safely  say  I  never  saw  a  Trout  soar  more  than 
eight  or  ten  inches  above  i!s  "crystal  home."  I  honor 
"  Barnwell"  for  the  Anglomania  which  has  seized  him— he 
has  been  inoculated  with  a  good  scab,  and  the  virus  has  pene- 
trated his  system :  but  I  can't  help  being  reminded  by  his 
description,  of  the  eloquence  of  a  member  of  a  country 
debating  society  in  Kentucky,  who  commenced — "Happiness, 
Mr.  President,  is  like  a  crow  situated  on  some  far-distant 


DIBS    PISCATORI^ 


579 


mountain,  which  the  eager  sportsman  endeavors  in  vain  to 
no  purpose  to  reproach."    And  concluded-"  The  poor  man, 
Mr.   President,  reclines   beneath   the  shade  of  some  wide- 
.spreading  and  umbrageous  tree,  and  calling  his  wife  and  the 
rest  of  his  httle  children  around  him,  bids  their  thoughts 
mspire  to  scenes  beyond  the  skies.  He  views  Neptune,  Plato, 
Venus,  and  Jupiter,  the  Lost  Pleides,  the  Auroly  Bolyallis 
and  other  fixed  stars,  which  it  was  the  lot  of  the  immorral' 
iNewton  first  to  depreciate  and  then  to  deplore." 

But  a  graj-headed  man  who  cannot  tie  a  decen'  knot  in  his 
casting.line  without  the  aid  of  his  spectacles,  should  forget 
such  nonsense.     There  is  one  consolation,  however,  that  this 
cJecay  of  natur."  which   brings  with  it  the  necessity  for 
g  asses  m  seeing  small  objects  within  arm's  length,  gives  in 
like  ratio,  the  power  of  seeing  one's  flies  at  a  distance  on  the 
water;  there  was  old  Uncle  Peter  Stewart  who  could  knock 
a  pheasant's  nead  off  at  fifty  yards  with  his  rifle,  and  see  a 
gnat  across  the  Beaverkill,  when  he  was  past  sixty: 

Here  is  the  sun  shining  as  bright  now  as  if  he  had  not 
blinked  at  noon,  and  such  weather,  not  too  hot  and  not  too 
cold ;  I  n)ust  acknowledge,  though,  my  teeth  did  chatter  this 
morning  when  I  waded  across  at  the  ford, 

"  Sweet  day,  so  cool,  so  calm,  so  bright, 
The  bridal  of  the  earth  and  sky ; 
The  dew  shall  weep  thy  fall  to  night, 
For  thoru  must  die." 

I'll  Start  in  here,  for  it  appears  there  is  always  luck  in  the 
pool  or  rift  under  the  lee  of  the  smoke  whore  one  cooks  his 
Irout.  It  :s  strange,  too,  for  it  seems  natural  that  the  smoke 
™ld  drive  the  flies  away,  and  as  a  consequence  the  fish  get 
out  ofthe  notion  of  rising.  But  no  matter,  here  goes.  Just 
as  I  supposed,  and  a  brace  of  them  at  the  first  cast     Come 


580 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


ashore  on  the  sloping  gravel,  my  lively  little  fellows, — eight 
and  nine  inches — the  very  size  for  the  pan ;  but  who  wants  to 
eat.  fried  Trout  after  cooking  them  under  the  ashes  or  on  a 
forked  stick  ? 

There  are  no  good  fish  here ;  the  water  is  not  much  more 
than  knee-deep,  and  they  have  no  harbor  amongst  those  sinail 
pebble-stones.     I  have  thrown  in  a  dozen  little  fellows  within 
the  last  ten  minutes.    I'll  go  to  the  tail  of  that  strong  rift 
below  the  saw-mill.     The  last  time  I  fished  it  was  when  that 
lean  hungry-looking  Scotchman  came  over  here  from  Jim 
Henry's;    he  had   been   sneaking   through  the  bushes   and 
poaching  all  the  little  brooks  around,  where  the  fish  had  run 
up  to  spawn,  with   his  confounded  worm-bait.     This  stream 
was  low  then  and  the  fish  shy ;  I  had  approached  the  end  of 
the  rift  carefully  and  wa&  trying  to  raise  them  at  long  cast  in 
the  deep  water,  when  he— without  even  saying  "by  your 
leave" — waded  in  within  a  few  yards  of  where  they  were 
rising,  and  splashed  his  buck-shot  sinker  and  wad  of  worms 
right  amongst  them.    I  said  nothing,  and  he  did  not  appear  to 
think  that  interfering  with  my  sport  so  rudely  was  any  breach 
of  good  manners,  or  of  the  rules  of  fair  fishing.     A  Scotch- 
man, to  catch  Trout  with  a  worm!    Poor  fel  low !  his  piscatory 
education  must  have  been  neglected,  or  he  belonged  to  that 
school  who  brag  only  on  numbers.     I  know  a  party  of  that 
sort  who  come   up   here   every  summer  from   Easton  and 
bring  a  sauer-kraut  stanner  to  pack  their  Trout  in,  and  salt 
down  all  they  take  without  eating  one,  until  they  get  home 
They  catch  all  they  can  and  keep  all  they  catch,  great  and 
small.     Bah  1  a  poor  little  salted  Trout — it  tastes  more  like  a 
piece  of  "yaller  soap"  than  a  fish.    Such  fishermen  are  but 
one  remove  from  the  bark  peelers  I  found  snaring  and  netting 
Trout  in  the  still  water  below  here,  last  August.  I  can  just  see 
their  shanty  from  here.     "Instruments  of  cruelty  are  in  their 


DIBS    PISCATORI^ 


681 


habitations.    O  my  soul,  come  not  thou  into  their  secret ;  unto 
their  assembly,  mine  honor,  be  not  thou  united  I" 

There  is  the  sawyer's  dog;  if  he  comes  much  nearer  I'll 
psychologize  him  with  one  of  these  "  dunnicks" !   But  he  turns 
tail  as  soon  as  I  stoop  to  pick  one  up.    Now  for  it-just  at 
the  end  of  the  swift  water-ah!  my  beauty-fifteen  inches, 
by  all  that  is  lovely  I    He  threw  his  whole  length  out  of  water 
—try  it  again- 1  can't  raise  him.     This  won't  do.     Am  I 
cold,  or  am  I  nervous,  that  I  should  shake  like  a  palsied  old 
man  because  I  missed  that  fish  ?   Fie  on  you,  Mr.  Nestor,  you 
who  have  run  the  rapids  at  the  "Eough  Waters"  on  the 
Nipissiguit,  in  a  birch  canoe,  with  a  Salmon  at  the  end  of 
sixty  yards  of  line,  and  your  pipe  in  your  mouth ;  I  thought 
you  had  gotten  past  a  weakness  of  this  kind.    But  it  will 
only  make  bad  worse,  and  convince  that  Trout  of  the  cheat 
to  throw  over  him  again;  so  I  must  leave  him  now,  and  get 
back  to  the  log  on  that  sunny  bank  and  compose  myself  with 
a  few  whiffs,  while  I  change  my  flies.     It  will  be  just  fifteen    ' 
minutes  until  I  knock  the  ashes  out  of  my  pipe ;  by  that  time 
my  vaulting  friend  will  likely  forget  the  counterfeit  I  tried  to 
impose  on  him,  if  I  offer  him  something  else. 

Now  Dick  gave  me  this  for  a  meershaum,  and  I  have  no 
doubt  Mr.  Doll  sold  it  for  one  in  good  faith ;  but  it  is  a  very 
_  pale  complected"  pipe  for  one  of  that  family.    I  have  smoked 
It  steadily  for  a  year,  and  there  is  only  the  slightest  possible 
tinge  of  orange  about  the  root  of  the  stem.     It  is  hardly  as 
dark  as  this  ginger  hackle  in  my  hat-band.     However,  it  is 
light,  and  carries  a  big  charge  for  a  pipe  of  its  size,  and  the 
shortness  of  the  stem  brings  the  smoke  so  comfortably  under 
the  nose_a  great  desideratum  in  the  open  air.     The  pipe 
must  nave  been  instituted  expressly  for  the  fisherman ;  it  is 
company  when  he  is  lonesome,  and  never  talks  when  he  wants 
to  oe  quiet;  it  concentrates  his  ideas  and  assists  his  judgment 


''i 


i'l 


1  ! 


582 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


when  he  discusses  any  important  matter  with  himself,  such 
as  the  selection  of  a  killing  stretcher.    No  wonder  the  Indians 
smoked  at  their  council-fires;  and,  as  for  the  nerves,  I'll  put 
it  against  Mrs.  Winslow's  soothing  syrup.     What  a  pity  it 
is  that  infants  are  not  taught  to  smoke  1     What  shall  my 
stretcher  be;  that  fish  refused  Hofland's  Fancy ;  now  let  me 
try  one  of  my  own  fancy.    Here  is  something  a  great  deal 
prettier;  a  purple  body  in  place  of  a  snuff-brown,  and  light 
wings  from  a  lead-colored  pigeon  instead  of  a  sober  woodcock 
feather.     What  a  pretty  fty— half  sad,  half  gay  in  its  attire, 
like  an  interesting  young  widow,  when  she  decides  on  shed- 
ding her  weeds,  and  "  begins  to  talce  notice."     I'll  change  my 
dropper  also-here  it  is;  body  of  copper-colored  peacock 
hurl,  wings  of  the  feather  of  an  old  brown  hen,  mottled  with 
yellow  specks.    What  a  plain  homely  look  it  has ;  it  reminds 
me  of  "the  Girl  with  the  Calico  Bress."   You  are  not  as  showy, 
my  dear  miss,  as  the  charming  little  widow,  but  certain  indi- 
viduals of  my  acquaintance  are  quite  conscious  of  your  worth. 
Let  me  see  which  of  you  will  prove  most  attrax5tive  to  my 
speckled  friend.     So  here  goes— two  to  one  on  the  widow- 
lost,  by  jingo!    He  looked  at  her  and  sailed  slowly  away.  Has 
he  ever  heard  of  the  warning  that  the  sage  Mr.  Weller  gave 
his  son  "Samivel  ?"     Perhaps,  then,  he  will  take  a  notion  to 
"the  girl  with  the  calico  dress."     Once  more— now  do  take 
care !    Ah  ha !  my  old  boy,  you  would  be  indiscreet,  after  all, 
and  the  widow  has  victimized  you.    Now  she'll  lead  you  a 
dance!     Don't  be  travelling  off  with  her  as  if  you  were  on 
your  wedding  tour,  for  I  know  you  would  like  to  get  rid  of 
her  already;  but  there  is  no  divorce  beneath  the  water,— you 
are  mine,  says  she,  "  until  death  us  do  part  I" 

There  you  are,  now!  the  three-minutes'  fight  has  completely 
taken  the  wind  out  of  you.  That's  the  last  f  ap  of  your  tail ; 
the  widow  has  killed  you  "  as  dead  as  a  mackerel."     Acting 


DIBS   PIStATORI^. 


588 


the  gay  Lothario,  were  you  ?  I  know  some  scaly  old  fellows 
who  play  the  same  game  ashore,  stealthily  patronizing  Mrs. 
Allen,  subsidizing  the  tailor,  bootmaker,  dentist,  and  barber, 
and  slyly  endeavoring  t.o  take  off  a  discount  of  twenty-five 
per  cent,  from  old  Father  Time's  bill.  But  that  won't  do,  for 
folks  of  any  discernment  know  at  a  glance  those  spavined, 
short-winded,  shaky  old  ^ellows,  who  trot  themselves  out,  as 
If  they  were  done-up  for  the  horse-market.  Lie  there  my 
Turveydrop,  until  I  move  down  a  little,  and  try  under  the 
bushes,  on  the  opposite  side. 

With  this  length  of  line  I  can  just  come  close  enough  to 
the  alders  to  miss  them.     Dance  lightly.  0  my  brown  girl 
and  follow  in  her  w^ke,  dear  widow,  as  I  draw  you  hither- 
ward.     Ah,  ha !  and  so  it  is :  there  is  one  dashing  fellow  who 
sees  charms  in  your  homely  dress.     How  he  vaults  !-nine 
rails,  and  a  top  rail!     Did  you  ever  know  Turner  Ashby? 
Not  Beau  Turner-I  mean  Black  Turner.    Did  he  ever  strad- 
dle a  bit  of  horse-flesh  with  more  mettle?     None  of  your 
Conestogas.     There  he  goes  again !    How  long  have  you  be- 
longed  to  the  circus  ?     But  he  can't  run  all  day  at  that  gait ; 
he  begins  to  flag,  at  last,  and  here  he  is  now,  coming  in  on 
the  "quarter  stretch."     There  you  are.  at  last-died  as  game 
as  a  Dominica  chicken.     Once  more,  now.    I  knew  it.— And 
again. 

Three  times  i  y  brace  of  beauties  have  come  tripping  home 
across  the  deep  whirling  rapid,  and  three  bright  Trout  lie  on 
the  gravel  behind  me.  I  begin  at  last  to  long  for  the  sound 
of  some  friendly  voice,  and  the  sight  of  a  good-humored  face. 
I  must  keep  my  appointment  with  Walter  at  the  foot-bridge; 
so  I  am  off.  Some  of  the  "  Houseless"  don't  like  this  solitary 
sport  I  know  one  of  them  who  would  as  soon  be  guilty  of 
drinking  alone ;  but  he  is  not  a  contemplative  angler,  and  has 
never  realized  how  hungry  some  folks  get  through  the  winter 


584 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


for  a  little  fishing.  May-be  he  has  never  read  what  William 
Howitt  says,  in  his  "  Rural  Life  in  England,"  about  fishing 
alone.  It  will  come  home  to  every  quiet  fly-fisher.  See  what 
an  unveiling  of  the  heart  it  is,  when  the  angler  is  alone  with 
Grod  and  Nature. 

'•  IV)])le  that  have  not  been  innoculated  with  the  true  spirit 
may  wonder  at  the  infatuation  of  anglers — but  true  anglers 
leave  them  very  contentedly  to  their  wondering,  and  follow 
their  diversions  with  a  keen  delight.  Many  old  men  there 
are  of  this  class  that  have  in  them  a  world  of  science — not 
science  of  the  book,  or  of  regular  tuition,  but  the  science  of 
actual  experience.  Science  that  lives,  and  will  die  with  them  ; 
except  it  be  dropped  out  piecemeal,  and  with  the  gravity  be- 
coming its  importance,  to  some  young  neophyte  who  has  won 
their  good  graces  by  his  devotion  to  their  beloved  craft.  All 
the  mysteries  of  times  and  seasons,  of  baits,  flies  of  every 
shape  and  hue ;  worms,  gentles,  beetles,  compositions,  or  sub- 
stances found  by  proof  to  possess  singular  charms.  These 
are  a  possession  which  they  hold  with  pride,  and  do  not  hold 
in  vain.  After  a  close  day  in  the  shop  or  factory,  what  a 
luxury  is  a  fine  summer  evening  to  one  of  these  men,  follow- 
ing some  rapid  stream,  or  seated  on  a  green  bank,  deep  in 
grass  and  flowers,  pulling  out  the  spotted  Trout,  or  resolutely 
but  subtilely  bringing  some  huge  Pike  or  fair  Grayling  from 
its  lurking  place  beneath  the  broad  stump  and  spreading 
boughs  of  the  alder.  Or  a  day,  a  summer's  day,  to  such  a 
man,  by  the  Dove  or  the  Wye,  amid  the  pleasant  Derbyshire 
hills;  by  Yorkshire  or  Northumbrian  stream;  by  Trent  or 
Tweed ;  or  the  banks  of  Yarrow ;  by  Teith  or  Leven,  with 
the  glorious  hills  and  heaths  of  Scotland  around  him.  Why. 
such  a  day  to  such  a  man,  has  in  it  a  life  and  spirit  of  enjoy  ■ 
meut  to  which  the  feelings  of  cities  and  palaces  are  dim.  The 
heart  of  such  a  man — the  power  and  passion  of  deep  felicity 


DIBS    PISCATORI^. 


585 


cloud,  that  saU  above,  and  storm,  blustering  and  growling  i„ 

il^lfZ"" ""  ""^"'^  """""'«--• '"» -"'-'«-'> 

fold     T.  ?"  "P""  l.im-Ebene.er  Elliott  only  can  un- 

M.    Te  weight  of  the  poor  man.  ,ife_the  cre'of  p„v. 

iten  r  2'"""~''"""""  ■"  ^  -^-^  "f  «'-""y.  »a  trans. 

lucent  as  the  everlast.ng  canopy  of  heaven  above  him  -thev 

om,  hut  he  easts  them  off  for  the  time,  with  the  powe    :, 

around,  strong  in  the  knowledge  that  he  is  a  man  ■  an  im 

For  that  day  he  ,s  more  than  a  king-he  has  the  heart  of  hu 
".an,ty,  and  faith  and  spirit  of  a  saint.    It  is  not  th  Id  „nd 
hne  that  floats  before  him-it  is  not  the  flowing  water  or 
ZHrr)T  »--'--«>-  niomfnts  of 'alt 

monv  of  1  """"■"'  "  ""'°'  "'  "•'  '"  of  "^^  si- 

mony of  We  and  goodness  written  on  everythin.-  around 

h.m  wuh  the  pencil  of  Divine  beauty.    He  is'no  lo",,      th! 

weaned  and  oppressed-the  trodden  and  despiscd-w:  kl 

in  threadbare  garments  amid  men,  who  scarcely  dei.n  JLk 

oTed  rhrei^v """"-""' ''  ■■'  ~"»v:ei' 

msed  to  h.mself  ,„  h,s  own  soul,  as  one  of  those  puzdin! 
a^pmng,  and  my.,terious  existence.  ,,.   whom  all  this  sp  ef 

n-  gates.    These  arc  magnificent  sp,         ,....s  f„,  „  ' 
nghng  carpenter  or  weaver;  b„»  ::oene.er  Elliott  JZl 

us  that  they  are  his  legitimate  thoughts,  when  he  can  brel 
or  a       st.„.  the  bonds  of  bis  toiling  age,  and  escape  toTh 

open  aelds.    Let  us  leave  him  dipping  his  line  in  the  waters 

of  refreshing  thought." 

Thus  writes  William  Hewitt    But  there  is  the  foot-bridge 
and  here  a.e  my  little  friend,  tbe  Sand-pipers.    How  oiCn 


586 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


the  fly-fisher  sees  them  running  along  the  pebbly  margin  of 
the  Trout  stream  (as  Wilson  truly  says),  "  continually  nod- 
ding  their  heads;"  sometimes  starting  with  their  peculiar 
short  shrill  note,  from  their  nests  in  the  wave-washed  tufts 
of  long  grass,  flapping  along  the  creek  sideways,  as  if 
wounded  in  leg  or  wing,  to  decoy  the  fancied  destroyer  from 
the  nest  of  downy  little  snipelings.  And  there,  where  the 
waters  of  the  noisy  rapid  finds  rest  in  the  broad  shallow 
below,  is  one  perched  on  a  big  gray  boulder,  as  gray  as  her- 
self. How  lonely  she  seems  there,  like  the  last  of  her  race, 
were  it  not  that  her  constant  mate  is  on  the  strand  below, 
busily  engaged  picking  up  larva  and  seedling  muscles  for  its 
little  ones  in  the  nest  up  the  creek. 


of 
d- 
ar 
fts 
if 
>m 
he 

)W 

ce, 
its 


THE  ANGLER'S  SABBATH. 


"  The  first  men  that  our  Bavlour  dear 
Did  choose  to  wait  upon  lliiii  here     . 
Pleet  flHhere  were,  and  AbIi  tlie  last 
Food  was  that  Ue  on  earth  did  taste; 

1  therefore  strive  to  follow  those, 
Whom  He  to  follow  Him  hath  choM." 
Waitow. 


.lAif!^*' 


THE  ANGLER'S  SABBATH. 

rtow  peacefully  the  Sabbath  dawns  on  the  weary  angler  f 
Whether  he  is  sojourning  within  sound  of  the  hoarse  break- 
ers, or  amongst  the  mountains  of  a  rugged  Trout  country. 

If  at  some  ocean  watering-place,  after  his  refreshing  bath 
m  the  surf,  and  his  breakfast,  if  there  be  no  place  of  public 
worship  near,  he  whiles  away  the  day  as  he  best  can.   Strolling 
along  the  sea-shore,  picking  up  smooth-worn  shells  and  bright 
pebbles,  and  scaring  the  little  snipe  that  follow  the  retreating 
rollers  to  catch  the  marine  insects  thsy  leave,  or  ply  their 
spindle-shanks  shoreward,  as  they  are  chase.i  up  the  beach 
by  the  incoming  surf.     Or  he  walks  along  the  bay-shore, 
flushing  the  curlew  and  wiUet,  and  startling  the  colonies  of 
busy  little  fiddler  crabs  on  the  muddy  flats,  each  one  appa- 
rently shouldering  its  big  hind-leg,  aa  it  scrambles  away  to 
Its  smoothly. burrowed  hole. 

If  in  a  Trout  country,  the  day  is  ushered  in  with  the  sing- 
ing  of  birds,  and  God's  blessed  sunshine  lighting  up  the  sides 
of  the  hills,  and  pervading  his  heart  If  he  rises  late,  it  is 
because  he  is  stiff  from  wading  the  rough  stream  the  day 
before ;  perhaps  he  has  a  few  bruises  on  his  shins,  but  a  good 
breakfast  and  a  little  exercise  after  it,  supple  his  joints  and 
reiuvenate  him.  The  creels  have  been  washed,  and  hang 
against  the  sunny  side  of  the  house,  and  the  rods  rest  in  the 
outer  angle  of  the  chimney,  or  on  wooden  pegs  along  the 
sides  of  the  porch.     The  sight  of  the  biggest  Trout  at  break- 

(589) 


590 


AMERICAN    ANOKER'8    BOOK. 


fast  acts  as  a  reminder  of  some  of  the  ludicrous  mishaps  of 
yesterday,  and  good-natured  repartee  and  jest  give  a  zest  to 
the  meal.  Some  remember  the  commandment — "  In  it  thou 
shalt  not  do  any  work,"  and  get  ready  to  go  to  meeting  witli 
the  hostess  or  the  girls;  while  others  take  a  quiet  stroll 
through  the  woods,  or  along  the  stream,  and  see  sighti  and 
hear  sounds  that  come  back  to  them  at  times,  amid  the  busy 
hum  of  the  dense  city,  like  "far-off  murmurs,  gentle  whispers." 

But  the  girls  are  waiting,  dressed  in  their  Sunday  gear. 
Yon  would  scarcely  know  Kate  for  the  naked-ankled  lass 
you  saw  milking  as  you  came  in  last  evening ;  and  there  is 
Hans  and  his  dog  "Watch,"  all  ready  to  start.  There  is  no 
chancelled  or  steepled  church  here,  so  we  walk  a  mile  or  two 
down  the  creek  to  the  tov/nship  school -house,  where  sturdy 
farmers,  gaunt  raftsmen,  staid  matrons,  and  "unco  lads  and 
clever  hizzies"  sit  waiting  in  silence  the  coming  of  the  circuit 
preacher. 

All  is  peace  within ;  the  only  thing  that  betokens  discord 
v^ithout,  is  a  disposition  of  "Watch,"  and  Captain  Ellis's  dog 
"Top,"  to  renew  an  ancient  feud,  wliich  might  involve 
"Cwsar,"  who  stands  by  with  tail  erect,  bristling  in  armed 
neutrality,  but  ready  to  take  sides  with  the  party  that  proves 
strongest :  this  of  c  )urse  would  wake  up  the  puprnacity  of  a 
pompous  little  fell  >w  with  his  tail  curled  ovi  is  back  so 
stitiiy  that  his  hind  feet  scarcely  touch  the  ground ;  even  the 
"bench-legged  hce,"  and  the  sheep-stealing-looking  "yaller 
dog,"  with  his  bushy  associate,  who  has  been  curtailed  of  his 
"fair  proportions"  so  close  to  his  hurdles,  that  it  is  difficult 
to  say  whether  it  has  been  "cut  oflf  or  druv  in;"  the  lap 
eared  hound  would  also  pitch  in,  and  there  would  be  no 
preventing  a  free  fight.  But  Hans  calls  Watch  off,  and  as 
he  slinks  under  the  bench  by  his  side,  the  casus  belli  is 
removed. 


BUS    PISCATOItil. 


Ml 


Lot  u,  follow  Watcl,,  ,„d  „„t„r  the  log  ,choo|.hou.e.  Ho,, 
the  pr,muiv„  i™„V«„  bring.  ba„k  recolloc.iun,  of  the  time 
when  «  w»  ked  tm,  or  three  n.iles  to  an  old  fleld-aehool,  an,l 

the  long  »lab  benehe,,  ju.,t  «uch  as  we  used  to  polish  with 
our  eonlnroy  trousers,  and  earve  the  initials  of  our  sweet- 
hearts and  our  own  name  on;  the  wooden  pegs  like  those  we 
hung  our  hats  and  bonnets  on;  the  teacher's  desk,  and  the 
long  low  windows,  of  the  ™me  pattern  they  were  forty  years 
ago;  and  there  is  the  old  ten.plate  wo,xl.stove  standing  in  the 
middle  of  the  floor,  with  its  sidcdoors  off  the  hinges,  so  like 
the  one  we  used  to  toast  our  bread  or  fry  our  baeon  on,  at 
pay  .me,  and  when  the  master  was  not  looking,  spit  against 
dunng  sehooLhours,  to  see  it  danee  and  sizzle.    Let  us  rea,l 
Che  maker  s  nan.e  on  the  side-plate-"  Beuben  Trexler-Mary 
Ann  Burnaee."    What  an  affeetionate  way  those  old  iron 
masters  had,  of  naming  their  furnaees  after  their  wives  or 
ome  favonte  daughter!    I  r... ..  read  any  other  than 
femtnme  name  on  a  ten-r  „e  stove.    I  don't  believe  there 
ever  was  a  «,fc  furna,,.,  at  least  there  were  none  when  I  was 
a  boy;  but  there  wr.s  "Rebeeoa  Furnaee,"  or  "Marv  Ann 
B^rnaee,^  or  .-Mari.  Furnace,"  or  .-Isabella  Furml,'    o 

name  that  appeared  on  the  hard  blaek  side-plates 
What  deh,vs  the  preaeher?  he  is  fifteen  minutes  behind' 
me  I    Perhaps  h,s  horse  is  grass.fed,  a,:d  he  remembers  on 
h,s  warm  June  morning,  that  "the  merciful  man  ,s  merciful 
0     .s  beast  '  and  rides  slowly;  or  the  fair  sisters  at  old 
brother  tzras  where  he  st,>yed  all  night,  twelve  miles  away 
bave  been  a  httle  sweet  on  the  yonng  preaeher,  and  h 
«.    longer  over  his  coffee  than  usual.    The  company  are 
gemng  restless;  ther^  is  a  frequent  "  ahem  I"  from  the  women 
and  the  httle  boys  are  munching  maple-sugar,  or  indulgirg 


692 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


in  a  sly  game  of  heads  and  points  with  crooked  pins,  to  while 
away  the  time.  But  Captain  Ellis,  appreciating  this  state  of 
"public  feeling,"  like  a  considerate  brother,  strikes  up— with 
only  a  slight  nasal  twang  in  his  big  manly  voice— that  grand 
old  hymn, 

"  When  all  thy  mercies,  0  my  God, 
My  rising  soul  surveys. 
Transported  with  the  view  I'm  lost 
In  wonder,  love,  and  praise." 

All  join  in,  and,  as  the  hymn  closes,  the  minister  enters. 
The  gospel  of  peace  and  salvation  is  preached,  and  we  say 
amen  to  the  closing  prayer,  that  it  may  accomplish  that 
"  whereunto  it  is  sent." 

The  service  over,  there  is  kindly  greeting  of  neighbors; 
perhaps  some  talk  about  "craps"  and  lumber,  and  then  the 
homeward  walk. 

After  dinner  and  a  nap,  we  take  a  walk  to  the  falls,  or  the 
pigeon-roost;  and  on  our  return,  as  we  come  down  the  creek, 
we  see  the  diverging  circles  dimpling  the  still  pools  as  the 
Trout  quietly  rise  and  take  in  the  little  yellow  ephemera  that 
fly  over  us,  and  settle  on  the  water. 

In  the  evening  one  of  the  brethren  reads  from  his  pocket 
edition  of  Walton,  the  discourse  on  thankfulness,  delivered 
"by  Father  "Izaak,"  to  his  friend  Y3nator,  as  hb  was  journey- 
ing towards  Tottenham  High-Cross;  which  we  here  insert 
for  the  perusal  of  all  anglers,  who  "Bemember  to  keep  the 
Sabbath  day  holy." 

"  Well,  Scholar,  having  now  taught  you  to  paint  your  rod, 
and  we  having  still  a  mile  to  Tottenham  High-Cross,  I  will. 
as  we  walk  towards  it,  in  the  cool  shade  of  this  sweet  honey- 
suckle hedge,  mention  to  you  some  of  the  thoughts  and  joys 


»IES    PISCATORIiB. 


698 


hat  have  po.so.^  „y  ,o„,  ,;„„,  „^  .^„  ^^^ 
these  thoughts  shall  be  told  you,  that  you  also  ly  joi„  „i  h 

appear  to  be  the  greater,  and  we  the  more  thankful  for  it  I 

very  time,   he  under  the  torment  of  the  stone,  the  gout 
and  toothache;   and  this  we  are  free  from.     Ind  evlry 

thankful.    There  have  been,  sinee  we  met,  others  that  have 
met  disasters  of  broken  limbs;  some  have  been  blasted 
oU.rs  t.™der.strueken;  and  we  have  been  freed  fromC 
and  all  those „any  m,se„es  that  threaten  human  nature;  le 
us  therefore  rejo.ce  and  be  thankful.    Nav,  which  is  a  t 
greater  mercy,  we  are  free  from  the  nnsupportahle  burthen 

bear,  and  therefore  let  us  praise  Him  for  his  preventing 

Nay,  let  me  tell  you,  there  be  many  that  have  forty  times 

h    hhfu,  and  cheerful  like  us;  who,  with  the  expense  of  a 
attle  money,  have  ate  and  drank,  and  laughed,  and  angled 
and  sung,  and  slept  securely;  and  ro.a  next  day,  and  c  s^ 
away  care,  and  sung,  and  laughed,  and  angled  aga^n;  wWch 
are  bless.ngs  r,ch  men  cannot  purchase  with  all  their  money 
Let  me  tell  you.  Scholar,  I  have  a  rich  neighbor   that  is 
always  so  busy  that  he  has  no  leisure  to  laugth ;  the  who 
business  of  his  life  is  to  get  money,  and  more  :o;ey,  t,:!!  h 
m.y  still  get  more  and  tnore  money;  he  is  still  drudgin.  on 
a..d  says   that  Solomon  says,  .The  diligent  hand  mrketh 
r.ch;   and  it  ts  true  indeed ;  but  he  considers  not  that  it  i. 
not  m  the  power  of  riches  ^o  make  a  man  happy;  for  it  was 
wisely  said,  by  a  man  of  great  observation,  -That  there  be 
38 


594 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


a3  many  miseries  beyond  riches,  as  on  this  side  them :'  aud 
yet  God  deliver  us  from  pinching  poverty ;  and  grant,  that 
having  a  competency,  we  may  be  content  and  thankful.    Let 
not  us  repine,  or  so  much  as  think  the  gifts  of  God  unequally 
dealt,  if  we  see  another  abound  with  riches ;  when,  as  God 
knows,  the  cares,  that  are  the  keys  that  keep  those  riches, 
liang  often  so  heavily  at  the  rich  man's  girdle,  that  they  clog 
him  with  weary  days  and  restless  nights,  even  when  others 
sleep  quietly.     We  see  but  the  outside  of  the  rich  man's 
happiness ;  few  consider  him  to  be  like  the  silkworm,  that, 
when  she  seems  to  play,  is,  at  the  very  same  time,  spinning 
her  own  bowels,  and  consuming  herself.     And  this  many 
rich  men  do;   loading  themselves  with  corroding  cares,  to 
keep  what  they  have,  probably,  unconscionably  got.     Let  us, 
therefore,  be  thankful  for  health  and  a  competence,  and  above 
all,  for  a  quiet  conscience. 

"Let  me  tell  you.  Scholar,  that  Diogenes  walked  on  a  day, 
with  a  friend,  to  see  a  country  fair ;  where  he  saw  ribbons, 
and  looking-glasses,  and  nut-crackers,  and  fiddles,  and  hobby- 
horses, and  many  other  gimcracks;    and  having   observed 
them,  and  all  the  other  finnimbruns  that  make  a  complete 
country  fair;  he  said  to  his  friend,  'Lord,  how  many  things 
are  there  in  this  world  of  which  Diogenes  hath  no  reed!' 
And  truly  it  is  so,  or  might  be  so,  with  very  many  who  vex 
and  toil  themselves  to  get  what  they  have  no  need  of.    Can 
any  man  charge  God,  that  he  hath  not  given  him  enough  to 
make  his  life  happy?     No,  doubtless;  for  nature  is  content 
with  a  little:  and  yet  you  shall  hardly  meet  with  a  man  that 
complains   not   of    some   want;    though    he,   indeed,   wants 
nothing  but  his  will,  it  may  be  nothing  but  his  will  of  his 
poor  neighbor,  for  not  worshipping,  or  not  flattering  him: 
and  thus,  when  we  might  be   happy  and  quiet,  we  create 
trouble  to  ourselves.    I  have  heard  of  a  man  that  was  angry 


DIBS    PISCATORI^. 


695 


With  himself  because  he  was  no  taller,  and  of  a  woman  that 
broke  her  looking-glass  because  it  would  not  show  her  face 
to  be  as  young  and  handsome  as  her  next  neighbor's  was 
And  I  knew  another,  to  whom  God  had  given  health  and 
plenty,  but  a  wife  that  nature  had  made  peevish,  and  her 
husbands  riches  had  made  purse-proud,  and  must,  because 
she  was  nch,  and  for  no  other  virtue,  sit  in  the  highest  pew 
in  the  church;    which  being  denied  her,  she  engaged   her 
husband  mto  a  contention  for  it,  and  at  last  into  a  lawsuit 
with  a  dogged  neighbor,  who  was  as  rich  as  l.e,  and  had  a 
wife  as  peevish  and  purse-proud  as  the  other:  and  this  law- 
suit  begot   higher   oppositions,  and   actionable   words    and 
more  vex: "ons  and  lawsuits;  for  you  must  remember' that 
Doth  w        r:.ch,  and  must  therefore  have  their  wills     Well 
this  wilful  purse-proud  lawsuit  lasted  during  the  life  of  thj 
first  husband ;  after  which  his  wife  vexed  ana  chid,  and  chid 
and  vexed,  till  she  also  chid  and  vexed  herself  into  her  grave  • 
and  so  the  wealth  of  these  poor  rich  people  was  curst  into  a 
punishment,  because  they  wanted  meek  and  thankful  hearts- 
for  those  6n\y  can  make  us  happy.    I  knew  a  man  that  had 
health  and  riches,   and  several   houses,   all    beautiful    and 
ready  furnished,  and  would  often  trouble  himself  and  family 
to  be  removing  from  one  houso  to  another;  and  being  asked 
by  a  friend,  why  he  removed  so  often  from  one  house  to 
another,  replied,  'It  was  to  find  content  in  some  of  them ' 
But  his  friend,  knowing  his  temper,  told  him,  if  he  would 
find  content  in  any  of  his  houses,  he  must  leave  himself 
behind  him:  for  content  will  never  dwell  but  in  a  meek  and 
qmet  soul.     And  this  may  appear,  if  we  read  and  consider 
what  our  Saviour  says  in  St.  Matthew's  Gospel ;  for  he  there 
says.-'  Blessed  be  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain  mercy 
Blessed  be  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God.    Blessed 
be  the  poor  in  spirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven 


596 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


And,  Blessed  be  the  meek,  for  they  shall  possess  the  earth.' 
Not  that  the  meek  shall  not  also  obtain  mercy,  and  see  God, 
and  b«  comforted,  and  at  last  come  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven ; 
but  in  the  mean  time  he,  and  he  only,  possesses  the  earth  as 
he  goes  toward  that  kingdom  of  heaven,  by  being  humble 
and  cheerful,  and  content  with  what  his  good  God  has 
allotted  him:  he  has  no  turbulent,  repining,  vexatious 
thoughts  that  he  deserves  better ;  nor  is  vexed  when  he  sees 
others  possessed  of  more  honor  or  more  riches  than  his  wise 
God  has  allotted  for  his  share ;  but  he  possesses  what  he  has 
with  a  meek  and  contented  quietness,  such  a  quietness  as 
makes  his  very  dreams  pleasing  both  to  God  and  himself. 

"My  honest  Scholar,  all  this  is  told  to  incline  you  to 
thankfulness:  and  to  incline  you  the  more,  let  me  tell  you, 
that  though  the  prophet  David  was  guilty  of  murder  and 
adultery,  and  many  other  of  the  more  deadly  sins;  yet  he 
was  said  to  be  a  man  after  God's  own  heart,  because  he 
abounded  more  with  thankfulness  than  any  other  that  is 
mentioned  in  holy  Scripture,  as  may  appear  in  his  book  of 
Psalms ;  where  there  is  such  a  commixture  of  his  confessing 
of  his  sins  and  unworthiness,  and  such  thankfulness  for  God's 
pardon  and  mercies,  as  did  make  him  to  be  accounted,  even 
by  God  himself,  to  be  a  man  after  his  own  heart.  And  let 
us.  in  that,  labor  to  be  as  like  him  as  we  can:  let  not  the 
blessings  we  receive  daily  from  God,  make  us  not  to  value. 
or  not  praise  him,  because  they  be  common;  let  not  us 
forget  to  praise  him  for  the  innocent  mirth  and  pleasure  we 
have  met  with  since  we  have  met  together.  What  would  a 
blind  man  give  to  see  the  pleasant  rivers,  and  meadows,  and 
flowers,  and  fountains,  that  we  have  met  with  since  we 
met  together?  I  have  been  told,  that  if  a  man,  that  was  born 
blind,  could  obtain  to  have  his  sight,  for  but  only  one  hour 
during  his  whole  life,  and  should,  at  the  first  opening  of  his 


Kins    PISCATORIa. 


S»7 


efthlt;  ,k"  "'     "P™  "'  '""  "•"="  "  --  '"  tis  full  glory, 
euher  at  .he  ™.„g  or  setting  of  it,  he  would  be  .o  transported 

wtmngly  turn  h„  eyes  from  that  ii«  ravishing  obieot  to 

dai       ai;       "'  '1  "'""^  °''^^  ''^^  "--«».  we  enjoy 
daily,  and  for  most  of  then,,  because  they  be  so  common 

most  men  f^get  to  pay  their  praises :  but  let  not  us ;  bZse 

•- .»  a  sacr.fice  so  pleasing  to  him  that  made  that  su    a  dT 

and  St,  1  protects  us,  and  gives  us  flowers,  and  showers  and 

Well,  Scholar,  I  have  almost  tired  ,„yself,  and   I  fl 
more  than  almost  tired  you:  but  I  now  see'Tott'cnham  H  ^ 
Cross;  and  our  short  walk  thither  shall  put  a  period  to  my 

plant  that  ,n  your  m,nd,  with  which  I  labor  to  possess  mv 

:atany"m\x;^rrt:f:,"^^^^^  '^-  "^  - 

fi,.^  •^'  ™^  *^^^  yo"'  *^at  riches  with 

poo      Lfb  T  '"  '°  '■""^^"^  ""•■'  -  "-'en.edly 

all.  For  ,t  ,s  well  sa,d  by  Caussin,  'he  that  loses  his  con- 
scence,  has  nothing  ieft  that  is  worth  keeping.'  Therefore 
be  s.e  you  look  to  that.    And,  in  the  next  place  look  t! 

next  to  a  good  conscence  ;  for  health  is  the  second  bles,,in. 
that  we  mortals  are  capable  of,  a  blessing  that  moneV  eanno°t 
buy;  and  therefore  value  it,  and  be  thankful  for  it  As  fo 
money,  which  may  be  said  to  be  the  third  blessing,  neglect  it 
»ot:  but  note,  that  there  is  no  necessity  of  being  iol,  fo  I 
0  d  you,  there  be  as  many  miseries  beyond  riohl,  as  onti 
s,de  them:  and,  ,f  yon  have  a  competence,  enjoy  it  with  a 


598 


AMERICAN  ANGLBR'8  BOOK. 


meek,  cheerful,  thankful  heart.  I  will  tell  you,  Scholar,  1 
have  heard  a  grave  divine  say,  that  God  has  two  dwellings, 
one  in  heaven,  and  the  other  in  a  meek  and  thankful  heart. 
Which  Almighty  God  grant  to  me  and  to  my  honest  Scholar ; 
and  so  you  are  welcome  to  Tottenham  High -Cross."     *    *    * 

"  'Let  every  thing  that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord:'  and 
let  the  blessing  of  St.  Peter's  Master  be  with  mine. 

"  And  upon  all  that  are  lovers  of  virtue ;  and  dare  trust 
in  his  Providence,  and  be  quiet,  and  go  a-angling." 

May  no  true  angler  forget  to  praise  God  for  his  blessings 
"  because  they  are  so  common ;"  for  "  it  is  a  sacrifice  so 
j)leasing  to  him,  who  made  the  sun  and  us,  and  still  protects 
us,  and  gives  us  flowers,  and  showers,  and  stomachs,  and  meat, 
and  content,  and  leisure  to  go  a-fishing." 


CONCmsiOK. 


S99 


CONCLUSION. 
0»K  who  has  had  the  patience  to  read  the  foregoing  page, 
on^utively  through,  has  no  doubt  observed,  that  inlvll 
mstaucea  I  have  repeated  in  a  special  way,  much  in  word  or 
substance  that  I  had  said  in  a  preceding  chapter,  or  in" 
general  way.    As  an  ex.n,ple,  I  have  had  occasion  to  refer 
to  he  manner  of  propagation  with  fishes  in  no  less  than  four 
d«  met  arttcles ,  either  of  which  would  have  been  incomplete, 
or  lacking  the  interest  it  was  entitled  to,  had  I  omitted  to  d  J 
80     Again,  there  are  certain  sporting  or  mher  angling  terms 
which  I  have  unavoidably  reiterated.-I  hope  the  reader  will 
not  regard  such  repetitions  as  blunders,  for  I  am  deeply 
consco...  that  i.  this  my  first  and  likely  my  last  attempt  a^ 
™ting  for  publication,  there  are  enough  real  sins  of  lis. 
sion  and  commission  in  my  compositions  to  answer  for;  even 
after  adopting  the  hints  and  suggestions  of  the  friend  with 
whom  I  have  read  the  proof-sheets. 

Eeaders  are  not  generally  aware  of  the  obligations  ». 
authors  are  under  to  honest,  careful  proofreadei;,  and  how 
much  bad  grammar,  bad  spelling,  and  imperfect  compositiol 
w^ld  be  inflicted  on  them,  were  our  productions  sent  forth 
without  being  eauteri.cd  and  plastered  by  them.     I  am 

indebted  to  the  firm  who  stprpf,tv,.o,l  ti 

,      .    .      . ,  .     ,  ""''  stereotyped  those  pages,  not  only 

tor  their  aid  .n  this  respect,  but  for  the  tasteful  and  judicious 
arrangement  of  the  book.  The  junior  men^ber  of  the  firm 
(being  one  of  our  craft)  has  taken  an  especial  interest  in  the 
respectability  of  its  appearance.  In  fact  his  solicitude  on 
this  score  has  even  been  exhibited  at  times  in  an  unamiable 
manner  For  instance,  in  reading  some  of  the  earlier  proof, 
sheets,  he  would  abruptly  ask  me,  how  many  times  in  a  single 


1 

11 

1 

H 

11 

iBh  ' 

IH 

H^Hi 

^^^^H 

i^9 

WQ; 

{■...^pfljL^l' 

s   ^^^^^^^^1 

Mjj|(f«l|fi 

UAfinwnttl! 

■11 

mmm 

fBii^*''^ 

\i  ^H 

III 

H^ 

i  ^M 

m 

i'^H 

mm 

WffiH'     ! ^^^H 

It  ^^H 

i  ^^H 

^M 

^HRiImw  '.  ^i^^^ 

wBgSBHBWsKt  ~  >^^^^^ 

n^^H 

■ 

600 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


chapter  I  intended  to  accuse  the  City  Gas-Works  of  having 
spoiled  the  fishing  in  the  Schuylkill  ?  or,  how  many  friends 
I  had  on  whose  statements  I  could  rely  ?  or  how  many  times 
in  my  article  on  Fly-Fishing,  I  intended  to  use  the  term 
"  spring  of  the  rod,"  on  a  single  page  ?  He  has  even  been  so 
regardless  of  my  feelings,  as  to  ridicule  my  drawing  of  the 
Black  Bass,  on  page  103,  saying,  that  he  always  felt  an 
inclination  to  stick  a  "  quid"  in  its  mouth ;  and  laughed 
outright,  when  I  tried  to  explain  :hat  the  expression  of  that 
feature  was  intended  to  make  the  fish  look  gay. — I  hope  the 
reader  will  regard  my  deficiencies  as  artist  or  author  with 
more  leniency. 

If  I  have  at  times  laid  down  rules  at  variance  with  the 
practice  of  experienced  anglers,  I  would  suggest,  that  there 
may  be  more  than  one  process  of  accomplishing  the  same 
thing.     With  a  certain  class  of  tishers  it  may  be,  that 

The  very  head  and  front  of  my  offending 
Hath  this  extent,  no  more — 

that  I  have  in  as  strong  language  as  I  could  decorously  use, 
condemned  unfair  and  unsportsmanlike  angling,  and  held  up 
to  scorn  the  mere  Pot-fisher  and  Snob.  If  such  be  the  case 
I  am  content.  "  It  is  a  very  pretty  quarrel  as  it  stands,"  but 
to  every  Honest  Angler — whether  a  fly-fisher  or  a  bait- 
fisher,  adept,  or  struggling  with  adverse  circumstances  in 
his  efforts  to  reach  the  higher  branches  of  the  art,  I  tender 
my  sincerest  sympathies. 

And  now,  dear  Reader,  may  you  by  keeping  a  conscience 
void  of  oflfenee,  keep  at  peace  with  yourself  and 

The  Author. 


h 

es 
rn 
so 
be 
in 
ed 
at 
he 
th 

he 

ire 
ne 


36, 

up 

ise 

lUt 

it- 
in 

ler 


SUPPLEMENT. 


ice 


It  is  bi 

had  my  sa 

deeming  tl 

appearanct 

structive  e 

branches  oj 

with  whom 

eaoh  other  i 

own  city,  wi 

gossip  of  th 

tions  of  see 

could  with  j 

dear  old  fr 

ardent  lover 

soothing  as 

and  innocen< 

of  a  mere  anj 

descending  t 

nlogiei  and   ] 

since  passed  : 

thought.     I  : 

should  be  thi 

The  old  docto 

future  inspira 

It  has  been 


ADDRESS 

TO  THE  RKAPBR8  OF  THE  FOREGOING  PAGES. 


deeming  that  I  Bh„„Id  .      v.    !/!  ^  ^'"'^  vobucum;"  little 

with  .ho.  I  J„Ce  t  c  !.  °~'  ""'  ""•'-'''  "^■»  ""- 

e.ch  «h.r  i„  .ho  «7h      '  d  r  '°  '"'"'■  "'°°"'"  "'  '"»"  -' 

could  with  proDrietv  nunt^  i,„  ^  ^  ^'^"  I 

dear  old  f  Z  {^''''''  ^^'^  «  P«Se  or  two  from  the  letter  of  a 
dear  old  fnend-physiciun  by  profession  and  angler  at  heart  . 
ardent  lover  of  nature-word,  f^  .       u-  '  ^°^ 

soothing  as  the  Caste  of  -ll  """  ''"^■"^«'  "^^^  «"d 

o  "«  tne  oastle  of  Indolence,  picture- written  as  th^  <!„ 
and  innocent  as  Galatea  "     Or  f.n  it  ^^easons, 

-  ^ere  angling  aCw^ir^^Zrrr^^^^^^ 
descending  the  shady  side  of  the  hill  of  1  fe  Vh  "'  "'^^ 

«%.««  and   pronrietL     «      Z         ""^  ^'^'~^''^'''  ^''^  teach  all  the 

future  iuspj;: j  ""       '"  ""'  "  "  '"""^  ""f "J.  «"''  «"-«  for 
I.  b.,  been  .„g,e..ed  ..  „e  b,  a  ve.o.„  angler,  .hat  .  treatise  on 

(603) 


604 


AMIRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


the  '•  mode  peculiar"  of  Bshing  for  Striped  Bass,  or  rather  Rockfish,  as 
practised  by  adepts  at  Newport,  Nurruganeett  IJay,  and  other  places 
along  our  coost  to  the  north  would  prove  interesting.  I  have  ncted 
on  this  hint,  and  availed  myself  of  the  kindness  of  an  experienced 
BaM-fisher  to  lay  before  the  reader  an  article  on  that  subject. 

That  I  have  furnished  so  much  additional  matter  on  Salmon  lliverH 
is  due  chiefly  to  a  somewhat  caustic  review  of  this  book,  which 
appeared  in  the  Montreal  "  Witness."  The  reviewer  pointed  out  a 
geographical  error,  which  for  want  of  proper  overHight  in  publishing 
some  matter  furnished  by  a  friend,  crept  into  the  first  edition.  Also, 
a  seeming  error  of  the  same  kind,  which  is  due  to  my  own  carelessness. 
It  is  quite  natural  that  a  member  of  the  great  Yankee  family,  who 
are  so  often  taunted  by  her  Britannic  Majesty's  subjects  with  being 
thin-skinned,  should  feel  his  "  fur  rubbed  the  wrong  way,"  on  being 
reminded  so  pointedly  of  his  errors,  and  told  that  his  book  contained 
•'less  information  and  more  gossip  than  the  sportsman  looks  for;" 
and  80  conclude  that  the  critic,  though  he  might  know  a  gcwd  deal 
about  Salmon-fishing,  was  some  "severe,  sour-complexioned  man," 
with  no  bunhommie,  and  about  as  much  sentiment  or  poetry  in  his 
nature  as  there  is  in  a  peck  of  dried  apples.  But  the  ways  of  anglers 
should  be  "  ways  of  pleasantness,"  and  their  paths  "  paths  of  peuce  " 

"For  what  avaUs  to  brooke  or  lake  to  goe 

With  handsome  rods  and  bookes  of  ever]*  sort, 
Well-twisted  lines  and  many  trinkets  moe, 
To  find  the  fish  within  their  watery  fort, 
If  that  the  minde  be  not  contented  loe, 
But  wants  those  gifts  that  should  the  rest  support." 


I  accordingly  kept  down  my  pugnacity,  corrected  my  geography, 
and,  acting  on  the  sensible  hint  of  my  critic,  sought  the  latest  infor- 
mation concerning  the  Salmon  rivers  of  Canada.  To  this  end  I 
applied  directly  to  him ;  and  the  sequence  has  been,  that  he  and  a 
friend,  who  is  officially  connected  with  the  Canadian  Fisheries,  have 
not  only  sent  me  a  great  deal  of  interesting  printed  matter,  bui  he  has 
also  given  me  instruction  under  his  own  hand,  and  written  me  friendly 


ADDRESS    TO    BRADBR3. 


SOS 


-"k.  Jly  o.  h,„,  no,  i  f.„  .ft„,  .„,  t„  ^  „ 

or  «»,„.,„,,.,.„,,  s n...H,„,i.,H,„.„,„.s.j';:'":::; 

:    u-    n-  ^        "  '"  m    .  ror  tor  a  Malmon  as  he  a  sninw 

>n  hiH  fl.ng  at  a  Yankee  author.  ^^ 

ul'or7'r  '»•"'"'"'  ^'"' ' '  ''"''''  '^-  '  ''^  -placed  the 
L..t  of  Sahnon  Kivers  ,H  it  appca...i  ,a  ,h..  fir«t  edition  with  a  new 
one    wh,ch   is  compiled    fro.   the     .test  infomatioa   ;hl  k 

obtained  fron.  official  and  other  sources.  '  '""   ^' 

Without  formal  mention  of  addenda  furnished  by  other  fri«„^ 

will  nna  descriptions  of  waters  uoted  for  Salmon    S«„ 

zr  ri ''™'' "" ""' "  '■'^°™«"°" »"  Bock.^ :  .1: 

«reed.„«,  „„d  o.he.  «..e,  which  ea„„o.  f.i,  .„  ;„.„«.  hi„. 


I 


If  the  1 
the  Salmo] 
William 
enclosina: 
procure  a  ( 

*  This  gen 
partment;  at 
in  the  Pigher 
of  gratitude  f 
which  yet  ren 
ledge  as  an 
bdolts,  withou 
discovery  tha 
neously,  by  h< 
Salmon  in  get 
menters  or  ob 


SHI  W.  tAWRENCE,  QUEBEC,  AND  CITADEL. 


SALMON    RIVERS. 


I 


If  the  reader  is  curious  as  to  the  geography  of  the  country  where 
the  Salmon  makes  its  home  in  Canadian  waters,  let  him  write  to  Mr 
William  F.  WruTCHER,*  at  Quebec,  paying  postage,  of  course,  and 
enclosing  a  sn.all  sum  of  Canadian  currency  for  the  purchase,  and 
procur^cjmrt  of  the  Salmon  and  Sea  Trout  Rivers,  published  by  the 
•  This  gentleman  is  at  the  head  of  the  Fisheries  Branch  of  the  Crown  Land  De- 

in  tl!  P  r"  I''  """""'  "''  "  ""'  """'■'  *'""'^  f'-""'  •"'«  -'-v,  as  published 
•n  the  Fisheries  Reports,  an  underpaid  officer.    All  Salmon-fishers  owe  him  a  debt 

whirr;    ;  "r^'"'  ^""-^  *-  "'"'^""-^  ^^•-" ' »»"  ^^  -'^'^-.  •"- '  i 

which  yet  remain  to  Canada  would  soon  become  as  barren  as  our  own.     ilis  know- 

1  ok'  win"  :";."''•"■ '^"''-"'"  '-  *-n  extensively  used  by  periodicals  and  in 
books,  without  his  receiving  the  credit  due  to  him.  One  instance  of  the  kind  is  his 
discovery  that  Salmon  in  Canada  frequently  express  their  spawn  and  milt  sim  1 

Salmon  m  generating  ever  resort  to  this  mode,  has  never  been  mentioned  by  experi- 
menters or  observers  in  Scotland  or  Ireland. 

(607) 


608 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


Crown  Lands  Department,  or  one  of  Bayfield's  charts.  He  will 
see  from  either  of  these  that  the  north  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
from  the  Saguenay,  trends  nearly  north-east  to  the  Bay  of  Seven 
Islands.  From  thence  that  it  stretches  (river  and  gulf),  in  an  almost 
straight  easterly  course,  to  the  sixtieth  degree  of  longitude,  and  then 
north-east  to  Labrador.  The  line  of  coast  in  all  its  sinuosities  and 
indentations  extending  over  nine  hundred  miles,  or  from  west  to  east 
thirteen  degrees. 

The  regions  of  the  Salmon  are  now  almost  entirely  east  of  the 
Saguenay.  Between  this  river  and  the  Bay  of  Seven  Islands  are 
the  larger  Salmon  rivers ;  their  sources  far  back  in  the  cold  barren 
wilderness.  From  thence  to  the  Mingan,  though  as  frequent,  they 
are  smaller;  and  from  the  Mingan  they  are  fewer,  but  increase  in 
size  as  the  coast  extends  towards  Blanc  Sablon. 

The  privilege  of  fishing  any  of  these  rivers  for  Salmon,  with  the  rod, 
as  stated  elsewhere,  is  leased  by  the  Canadian  Government,  to  the 
highest  bidder,  for  terms  of  from  one  to  five  years;  the  price 
varying  from  one  to  five  hundred  dollars,  according  to  the  accessibility 
of  the  river,  or  the  abundance  of  its  Salmon.  The  best  rivers  west 
of  the  Great  Natashquan  are  generally  taken  by  British  officers,  or 
by  Canadian  anglers.  Salmon-fishers  from  the  States,  however, 
who  are  not  fortunate  enough  to  lease,  may  frequently  have  opportu- 
nities of  buying  the  right  of  one  or  two  rods  for  a  river  for  a  single 
season.  If  the  applicant  has  no  friend  at  Quebec  to  attend  to  it,  be 
could,  no  doubt,  effect  a  satisfactory  arrangement  through  Mr. 
Whitcheb  of  that  city. 

East  of  the  Great  Natashquan  the  fish  are  not  so  persistently  netted 
at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers,  or  speared  in  the  upper  waters ;  and  the 
streams,  with  few  or  no  exceptions,  have  never  been  fished  with  the 
rod.  The  angler,  therefore,  who  explores  them  would  likely  cast  his 
flies  over  virgin  waters.  To  reach  these,  it  would  doubtless  be  better 
to  go  to  St.  John,  New  Brunswick,  and  take  the  steamer  for  Gaapfe, 
and  there  charter  a  schooner  and  get  canoes  and  boatmen. 


SALMON    RIVKRS. 


609 


SALMON.FISHING  IN  CANADA. 

o-e  -^».  r.nu.  ..™.,„  ::x :::  ^r- "°""  •» 

D^AR  Sir  :_t  y,^  ^^^.    ^  Montreal,  January  20th,  1865. 

g'ving  you  what  information  I  L.  '''''  """"'^  P^^^«"'«  '« 

which,  however,  wiU  ^L  riZTT'"'''''''"^^^  ^^'^^ 
intelligently  you  would  need  to  naak  a  visitT  k"  "'^'"'-  ^"  ""'« 
"cramming-,  can  equal  seeing  "^  '""^  "^^^•-  ""  -'"""'^t  of 

expCte.?^  '"^^'^'"^"  ''^-^*^«--*'  ^^ith  my  amendments,,  which 

Also, » slip  cm  r„„       , 

of  our  1863  fl,l,i„g..    1502  SllT       """'^'P""'  ei""E  He  r.,„,to 

o"e«.  o„i„,  ,„i  e«;r :  r:r  ^■-"■- '«««-"-. 

"P-  "'^'^  ^""  0^  Salmon  had  passed 

I  note  those  of  our  Salmon  rivers  whi.h 

order  of  their  value,  as  follows:-  ""'  """"'^  ""^'^"'^S'  ^^  the 

GooDBouT.-This  I  consider  our  best  river     T.  • 
iar  enough  off  to  prevent  interruption     The     "  "'*  *"  ''^'*^"*'  ^"*  ^« 
-r  it,  nor  can  there  H  the  couVis2:  1::T  "T"'^"*^  °^  «' 
the  sea,  and  are  easily  fished  •  and  f  h„  I  u  '         P'°^'  "'"•^  '^^'^  ^ 

well ;  and  in  favorable  seas;n  a  '  ,  ,  ""  "'"''  "^''  ^'^'^^  *'-  % 
of  your  city,  fi«bed  this  r  v  LTle  t^  ""'''  ''^-  ''  ""  ^' 
full  information.  *  ^'"''-"«  ^'"  ^^^  able  to  give  you 

MiNGAN   AND    ,TS    BRANCH    MaNITOU -The    «I 

river  also.  '  *^°""  ^"'"arks  apply  to  this 

Mo,s,K.-A  very  large  river,  and  full  of  fish     It  h     K       . 
or  hve  years,  by  Messrs.  Williams  anH  «  ^''"  ^'^'"'^  f^^  four 

fou  i.„™.i„„  ,„,,^  ^, ;-  -  B.    o^  3_,  „,„  ^^^  ^^^.^ 

oT.  John Also  a  I  •  ^""cta. 

39  "^"'S  some  27  miles  up  the  river.    I 


jji, 


610 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


send  the  journal  kept  by  the  party  who  fished  it  in  1863,  which  is  at 

your  service,  if  you  think  it  worth  your  while  to  copy  or  even  read.    I 

am  lessee  of  this  river. 
Natashqcan.— Is  a  capital  river,  but  it  is  very  distant.    I  do  not  know 

any  one  who  has  fished  it. 
St.  Margaret  (in  the  Saguenay),  is   a  fair  Salmon  river,  affording 

moderate  sport  for  two  or  three  rods.     It  is  over-fished. 
La  Val  is  fully  described  in  "  Barnwell's"  book.    I  visited  it  last  year, 

It  is  an  excellent  Trout  river,  and  affords  Salmon  which  are,  however, 

shy  as  flyers. 
Jaques  C artier  is  a  good  Salmon  river,  but  it  is  not  a  Crown  river—it  is 

owned  by  the  landowners  on  its  banks. 
Trinity,   St.  Margaret   {en  bas),  Bersimis,  Romaine.— I  believe  that 

aV   ,{  these  rivers  are  leased  by  the  Crown,  for  terms  varying  from  one 

to  nine  years. 

Write  me  the  kind  of  information  you  want,  and  the  rivers  you  wish 
it  of,  and  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  when  I  am  less  occupied  than  I  am 

to-day. 

I  sent  you  a  report  yesterday.  I  also  wrote  to  my  friend,  Mr.  W.  F. 
Whitcher,  to  send  you  such  as  he  had  duplicates  of.  Mr.  W.  is  at  the 
head  of  our  fisheries,  and  knows  more  of  the  Salmon  rivers  of  Canada 
than  any  man  I  know  of  in  the  Province. 

In  1862,  Messrs.  Williams  and  Bacon  killed  318  Salmon,  with  fly,  in  the 
Moisie ;  during  the  same  season  the  lessee  of  the  netrfishing  killed 
18,000  (!  1)  fish  in  the  estuary  of  the  river. 

From  the  newspaper  slip  enclosed  you  will  note  that  during  the 
season  1863,  there  was  killed  in  the 

St.  John,    4  fish  per  rod  per  day. 
Moisie,       3    " 
Mingan,     IJ  " 
Goodbout,  li  '• 

Enough  for  the  present. 

Most  truly  yours, 

D.  A.  P.  Watt. 


SALMON   RIVERS. 


611 


SALMON-FISiriNG  IN  OANADA_1863 

KiVER  St.  JoHN.-Salnion  taken  in  the  Rivpr  St   t.j,        -.u    . 

uuriiig  oaiy,  1863,  by  two  rods:— July  Ist    plova„  «  u 

Trent  Rapid  and  Camp  Pool  •  oa  71    '    7^  """'"  "''"Sht  at 

f     auu  v^iiinp  1-001 ;  Zd,  Sixteen  at  Trent  and  Onmn  .  q,i  + 
three  at  Seal  and  Trpnt .  dfi,     •  .  ^  P '  ^"'  t^^enty- 

ana  irent;  4th,  sixteen  at  Seal,  Trent  and  Pnll .  «;.u   o 

at  Trent  ,„d  Se,l  ■  Ifitl.    1  '  "^  "  '^"■°'  •  '^th.  four 

Sundflv  OT.u  fl        .  o  '  -^*'»' «"'<5n  at  Falls  and  Seal ;  26th 

ounaay ,  27th,  five  at  Seal  and  Camn     T«t„i         i        .  'I'.-ocn, 

"e,.h,  1000 p„„„,.,  ....^..TZoZr"""'"-  ''"  '"'" 

River  GooDBouT.-Salmon  taken  with  the  flv    hv  .i. 
River  Goodbout,  during  June  and  Julv    1«^/    r  "^      "'  '"'''  "   *'^ 
caught  at  Cayley.  Stote;  0th  ol  at L       :^^^^^^^         7.'^'^  ^^ 
Camp  ;  11th,  one  at  Camn  •  t^.k  .u  ^^"'^  '  1"'^'  ^^^  at  Bear  and 

Sunday  ;  22d,  ,ix  al  Kal»  i.l      n  '        ^  "'  '"""P'  ''"^''^  •  "-'"• 

Kate.  '.U  «;   ,     :r  :;  afL  T  i,  ""I;  ""  "'  "»""•  "'""^^ 

Upper,  Srih,  .eventeen  al  Kate    Belle  f  ,,  '     '"■■  '^"'''y- 

Sunday,  29tl,,  twel,,  at  Unit'  T    l7  '"      """"•  ^"P"' '  -«'!■. 

Upperf  Indian',  iZl^'lTlT^t  T  """  "'  """• 

"•y  i8t,  nine  at  Shea,  Upper;  2d,  eight  at 


612 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Indian,  Upper;  3d,  seven  a^  Fall,  Upper,  Haworth  ;  4th,  twelve  at  Cpner, 
Bolle,  Shea ;  5th,  Sundaj  ,  6th,  five  at  Upper ;  7th,  two  it  ILiwonL, 
Upper;  8th,  thundt-r  and  niiu,  fish  down  ;  9th,  five  at  Upper,,  Shea ;  10th, 
three  at  Indian,  Upper  ;  lltii,  nine  at  Upper  ;  12th.  Sunday  ;  J3ih,  «'jvea 
at  Upper,  Haworth ;  14th,  four  at  Upper,  Huworth,  Indian,  Rhea ;  15th, 
•four  at  Haworth,  Indian,  Upper ;  16th,  thrtu  at  Upper,  Belle ;  ITth,  one 
at  Upper;  ISth,  two  at  India.-,  Upper;  U'di  Sunday;  20th,  three  at 
Upper  ;  21st,  two  at  Upper;  22d,  two  at  Upper;  23d,  one  at  Shea;  24th, 
five  at  Fall,  Eddy,  Haworth,  Upper :  25th,  non.- ;  26th,  Sunday ;  27th,  one 
at  Shea ;  2Sth,  one  al  Upper.  Total  number  of  fie  li,  IS  I ;  total  weight, 
2190  pciM)  i>:     average  weight,  11^  pounds. 

River  I'-isiz  -  -Mess^rs.  C.  and  G.  3aoon,  and  Mr.  B.  Williams,  of  Boston, 
lessees  of  the  Hy-,'-  'l.ing  diviwim  of  the  River  Moisie,  returned  from  their 
expedition  k'..,  J'i.turdi»y,  und  left  the  same  night  for  their  homes.  They 
started  froia  Qj'>neo  en  the  6th  of  June,  in  the  steam*!-  Napoleon  III., 
with  the  otiier  parties  for  Godbout,  Mingan,  &c.  Their  fiahing  began  on 
the  21st  of  June,  and  the  last  fish  was  killed  on  the  5tb  u'^  July,  when  a 
sudden  fall  of  the  river,  occasioned  by  the  continued  dry  wo»,tb«^r,  brought 
their  sport  to  a  close.  Taking  into  consideration  the  shortness  of  time — a 
fortnight— the  fishing  was  good.  They  caught  139  salmon,  of  which 
thirty  weighed  30  pounds,  and  ten  over  30  pounds.  The  largest  fish  caught 
weighs  36  pounds.  They  caught  in  the  same  river  last  year  318  fish,  the 
largest  weighing  42  pounds. 

River  Nipissiquit.— The  following  record  of  eleven  days'  salmon-fish- 
ing on  the  River  Nipissiguit,  Bay  of  Chaleurs,  New  Brunswick,  by  Messrs. 
Adshead  and  Rintoul,  show  what  excellent  sport  these  gentlemen  obtained 
during  their  trip :— Killed  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Adshead,  July  6th,  one  Salmon  ; 
8th,  seven  ;  Oth,  six ;  10th,  seven  and  one  Grilse ;  Uth,  two ;  13th,  four ;  14th, 
two;  i6th,  two;  17th,  one;  18th,  two ;  20th,  four  and  two  Grilse— total, 
thitty-eight  Salmon  and  three  Grilse ;  weight,  384}  pounds.  Killed  by 
Mr,  Rintoul,  July  6th,  one  salmon  ;  7th,  two  ;  8th,  four ;  9th,  eight ;  10th, 
five;  11th,  one;  13th,  one;  14th,  one;  15th,  three;  16th,  two;  17th, 
three  ;  18th,  five ;  20th,  two— total  38  fish  ;  weight  341  pounds.* 

Rivers  Mingan  and  Manitou.— Salmon  killed  in  the  Rivers  Mingan 
and  Manitou,  by  three  rods,  during  the  season  of  1863    -/"jae  15th,  four 


*  I  was  on  the  ^  f .-  .iguit  the  snme  Reason  and  have  good  eftsous  for  saying,  that 
the  whole  number  o  ■.■  ti  killed  with  the  rod— including  ;  :,  -  uve— could  not  have 
been  less  than  five  hundred. 


fish;  I( 

four;  2' 

nine;  J 

fourteen 

four;  15 

eleven ; 

total  wei 

To  thi 

from  Ne 

fine  fish, 

his  own  : 

Great  Br 

We  ha 

a  fine  sea 

June  and 

affording 

visit  the  r 

their  spoi 

these  rive 

ciated. 


The  fol 
of  tourist' 
Halifax,  V 


Unlike  E 
of  no  fly-fii 
season  last 
seldom  thai 
after  the  si 
closes  by  li 
height  from 
twenty  days 
The  near 
River  Bersi 


SALMON   RIVERS, 


613 


fish;  16th   17th.  and  18th.  flood;  19th.  two;  20th.  six;  22d.  ei.hf  23d 

""">-•=-<'.  '"»!  aJ,  ten,  24th,  three.    Total  numle,  of  «.h    2r« 
total  wetght,  2226  pound, :  ..erago  „ight,  M  M  pound.  '       '  ' 

We  1,„„  much  pl.„„e  in  .uting  that  there  i,  every  probahilil,  lh»,. 

a  fine  .eaworthy  .teaser  „i„  n,.te  ,  fortnight,,  tr,p  during  .h'tloT 
Jnn.  and  Jul,  next,  ,„  the  principal  stream,  belonging  .„  L  goZl' 

-...anaenah4the..j..rfi::rt.tr^^^^^^^ 


The  Mowing  i,  .„  e„r>ct  from  .„  i„,„„ti„g  „„,,  i^^  „ 
of  ^«.-.af«  gntde,  entitled  "The  Lower  St.  ^wLcc,  or  Q  ;w  To 
Halifax,  via  Oaspii  and  Piotou. 

ALL  ABOUT  FISIIINO. 
Unlike  European  „„d  Southern  climate,,,  the  climate  of  Canada  admit, 
of  no  «,.«,ng  in  the  early  epring  or  in  winter  month,.    The  J  M  g 

.eUom  that  the  water,  are  warm  enough  and  sufficic.tl,  low  and  ,eltled 

after  the  ,„ow-coId  frchet.,  to  afford  aport  i-.  Mav     Th.  «  > 

c.o.e.  hy  law  with  the  month  of  Aug„:..    u  IZJl^Z;:: 

twenty  days  in  August. 

The  nearcBt  Salmon-fisheries  now  open  to  the  pubKo.  comnience  at  the 
R>ver  Bersimis,  eighty  miles  below  Tadousac;  with  the  single  exception 


n 


IP 


614 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


of  the  Moisie,  this  stream  breeds  the  largest  Salmon  found  along  the  coast. 
The  scenery  along  the  banks  for  something  like  forty  miles  is  varied  and 
inviting.  The  principal  of  its  tributaries  in  which  Salmon-fishing  may  be 
had,  is  about  thirty  miles  from  the  mouth,  on  the  left  bank.  Ascend  this 
branch  to  the  falls,  and  there  occur  pools  in  near  succession  within  half  a 
league  of  the  fall. 

Fwm  thirty-five  to  forty  miles  further  down  the  St.  Lawrence  is  the 
Mistassinni  River.  It  is  not  a  large  stream,  and  does  not  hold  very  heavy 
Salmon;  but  they  are  tolerably  fine  fish,. and  the  cadts  are  clean  and 
numerous.  Then  just  below  it  is  the  Becscio,  of  much  the  same  descrip- 
tion  as  the  preceding.    This  stream  is  sometimes  called  the  Sheldrake. 

Either  is  correct. 

Next  in  order,  and  distant  about  fifteen  miles,  is  the  famous  Goodbout. 
It  is  let,  and  the  privilege  of  fishing  its  sparkling  waters  belongs  to  the 
lessees.  The  Trinity  is  sixteen  miles  further  down  ;  uncertain  as  a  Salmon 
river,  it  always  gives  excellent  Troutrfishing.  The  same  may  be  said  of  its 
namesake  ten  miles  to  the  eastward.  And  also  of  the  Calumet,  a  league 
still  further  down.  The  Pentecost  and  Little  Marguerite  bear  about  the 
same  character.  The  larger  Marguerite,  about  two-thirds  of  the  way 
between  Calumet  and  .Seven  Islands  Bay,  is  better;  Moisie  River  is  next, 
twelve  miles,  but  being  leased  'tis  useless  to  describe  it.  Trout  River  is 
eeven  miles  below.  The  fishing  in  it  is  not  very  early ;  but  throughout 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  the  visitor  will  find  middling  sport. 

Until  you  reach  the  Mingan,  none  of  the  intervening  rivers  on  this  sec- 
tion of  the  coast  can  be  relied  upon.  The  St.  John  is  large  &m\  crowded 
with  fish,  but  is  a  sulky  stream.  From  Trout  River  to  Mingan  is  about 
ninety-four  miles.  Both  in  the  Mingan  and  its  branch,  the  Manitou, 
Salmon  are  always  plenty,  and  rise  well  to  the  fly.  The  Romaine  River 
is  nine  milos  further  down.  'Tis  a  dangerous  place  to  fish ;  but  the 
strength,  size,  and  playfulness  of  its  Salmon,  almost  tempt  to  defiance  of 

its  dangers. 

There  is  a  promising  stream  named  Great  Watscheeshoo,  fifty-three 
miles  below.  In  order  to  fish  it  to  best  advantage  you  should  camp  about 
two  miles  up,  and  fish  the  pools  between  camp  and  the  bead  of  an  island 
that  divides  the  channel  just  above  the  first  rapid.  Until  you  get  to  the 
Natashquan,  forty-four  miles  further,  none  of  the  other  rivers  are  of 
sufficient  consequence  to  repay  a  visit.  They  are  small,  and  liable  to  he 
easily  ruined  by  netting.  The  Natashquan  is  a  splendid  stream,  full  of 
fish  ranging  from  six  to  forty  pounds.    You  must  camp  at  the  second  falls, 


SALMON   RIVERS. 


615 


h  ok       f.n  Jr    ''*  "'"*  "^  bettor  your  chances,  for  there  you  naay 
hook  and  km  Salmon  us,ue  aU  nauseam.    Although  few  persons  would  be 
deposed  to  go  any  further  in  .arch  of  sport,  there  reJn  the  Kegas  Ika 
Mu  jarro.   Washoecootai.    Olomanoshcebo.    Etamamu.   Mecattin'a.     nd 
Esqnnnaux  R.vers.  within  distances  varying  from  twenty  to  one  hu  dred 

r:?;        :,'^/^^-'>^"--    ^'»>-  «»  -  ^treams^of  considerabl! 

Bizo.  and  would  doubtless  prove  worthy  of  trial.    The  chances  of  finding 

Sahnon  ,n  the  rivers  of  the  Island  of  Anticosti  are  favorable.    Trout 

erta.n,y  are  abundant.     Salmon  River  is  the  nearest  to  the  north  coast 

island,  can  be  reached  either  from  Mingan  or  from  Oasp6.     The  Gaspfi 
Rivers  afford  excellent  sport  for  Salmon  and  Trout.     Those  emptying  into 

he  Bay  of  Chaleurs.  such  as  the  Matapcdiac,  the  two  Cascapediacs  and 
the  Bonaventure.  are  noble  streams  and  enjoy  a  repute  for  first-rate  fishing 
The  only  ones  we  know  of  on  the  southern  coast  below  the  Metis,  are  the 
Matanne  Ste.  Anne.  Mont  Louis  and  Magdalen.  Their  qualities  as 
regards  fly-fishing  are,  however,  practically  unknown.  We  would  recom- 
mend  you  to  place  more  reliance  on  the  tried  rivers  by  the  Labrador 
coast. 

About  nearly  all  the  localities  named  above.  Sea  Trout  can  also  be 
caught  from  June  to  September.  In  July  and  August  they  are  in  high 
condition,  of  extreme  beauty,  model  symmetry,  exquisite  flavor,  and 
extraordinarily  strong  and  active. 


SALMON-FISHING  ON  THE  ST.  JOHN,  0.  E. 
The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  the  journal  of  a  party  who 
visited  the  River  St.  John,  Canada  East,  in  the  year  1863. 

TRIP  TO  THE  RIVER  ST.  JOHN,  IN  THE  YEAR  1863.* 
June  3d._Left  Montreal  at  7  o'clock,  p.  h.,  on  board  the  river  steamer 
"  Montreal,"  arriving  at  Quebec  at  6  a.  u.,  next  day.    Remained  in  Que- 
bec till  Saturday  the  6th. 

J«/»e  6th.-Embarked  on  board  the  steamer  "Napoleon  III."  for  con- 

*  The  reader  must  not  c5nfound  this  with  tne  River  St.  John,  in  New  Brunswick 
This  opens  with  the  Guff  of  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  Anticostij  distance  below 
Quebec,  about  470  miles. 


616 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


veyanco  to  tlu.  St.  Joha  river  at  4  p.  h.,  the-  hour  an  -mtod  for  ship'H  Rail- 
ing,  but  in  conflequei.oi  o1'  ^viw,  'fTiculty  in  getting  powder  on  b-mrd,  for 
the  U8e  of  the  li  J.Uwuscs  along  the  coast,  wo  did  n...  get  away  from  Que- 
bec until  7  P.  ».  '.Veuthcr  hazy,  with  a  drizzling  rain.  Our  party  con- 
sisted of  Cupt..;a  Savary,  47th  Regiment,  Captain  Collingwood,  lloyal 
Artillery,  and  myself,  with  two  French  voyageurs,  and  my  servant,  Lyn<'li, 
taking  aloj.g  wiu.  us  two  flat-bottomed  boats,  two  tents  (viz.,  one  circular 
one  for  ourselves,  and  one  lean-to  for  the  men),  with  materials  sufficient  to 
form  a  third  ridge-pole  tent.  We  also  had  provisions  calculated  for  seven 
weeks'  consumption. 

[Having  the  narratives  of  other  Salmon-fishers  to  crowd  into  the 
space  allotted  for  subject-matter  of  this  kind,  I  regret  my  inability  to 
take  the  reader  with  our  adventurers  through  all  their  toilsome  jour- 
ney  to  their  fishing-ground.     Suffice  it  to  say,  that  after  much  delay 
on  account  of  a  terrible  freshet  in  the  river,  and  some  serious  mis- 
haps, one  of  which  was  the  accidental  burning  of  their  tents  while 
absent  on  a  Trout-fishing  excursion,   by  which  they  lost  all  their 
clothing,  except  their  hats,  shirts,  trousers,  and  boots  they  stooa  in,  as 
well  as'theU-  powder,  shot,  flies,  and  extra  Salmon  rods  (only  one  of 
the  latter  which  were  on  a  stand  outside  of  the  camp  .   .naining  to 
each  fisher),  and  most  of  their  tea  and  sugar;  thes<'  indomitable  sports- 
men, who  could  not  be  thwarted  in  the  purpose  io>    'hich  the>     nn- 
menced  their  explorations,  sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  pro- 
cured some  flann.1  shirts  and  rough  s     res  from  the  Cod-fishermen,  and 
prosecuted  their  jurney.     On  the  .  ,  of  Jul^    v'e  find  them  at  their 
hut,  on  the  site  of  an  old  Indian  camp,  eighteen  miles  up  the  St.  John, 
where  we  again  taV'  n^,  their  narrative.] 

July  Ist.— Up  by  4  in  the  morning ;  packed  our  boats,  ar^d  started  for 
the  great  rapids,  nine  miles  distant.  Tvna  my  poor  faithful  dog  •  Trent" 
scarcely  able  to  walk,  from  the  ^Mskfl  flies ;  his  eyes  swollen  ip  and 
nearly  blind.  Performed  the  jo  ley  11,  passing  thro,  i.  «ome  moBt 
dangerous  rapids,  amongst  others  .  he  mo.,  dangerous  on  i  river,  known 
as  the  "  Black  Rapid."  We  arrived  at  our  journey's  end  at  p.  m.,  thank 
God !  No  more  towing  after  this,  being  now  at  our  fishing-ground,  twenty- 
seven  miles  inland.  We  had  a  beautiful  day,  passed  through  some  of  the 
boiaest  and  finest  scenery  I  ever  saw,  and  had  no  flies,  thanks  to  the  high 


SALMON    RjVBRg. 


617 


wmd  wh.ch  kept  the™  away.    During  .i„d  they  cannot  loave  the  shelter 

ett  .    W    '  .      """"«  "'  "^  --P'"«-«-nd.  'W,  a„.I  the  men 
et  t^  work  putfng  up  bark-huts.     Collingwood  and  m.vself  fixed  our  rod^ 
and  tackled  the  Salmon-with  what  renult  four  hers'  fishing  show'^ 

S'ore, 

C.  8,  8.  10,  10.  14,  16  «  66  lbs. 

D.  7,  7,  9,  10,  11  .=  44  „ 

Total      110  lbs. 
We  coaHed  fishing  about  6  p.  m.,  and  on  re^iii^ing  to  ean,p  found  a  hut 
ereeted  of  spruce  bark,  sufficient  to  accommodate  three  of'us ;  the  men 
«lcep.ng  under  the  boats,  which  a-    ,,rawn  up  on  the  sand.    Wo  a^l  feel 
very  t  .red.  so  turn  in  early-abou,      p.  m. 

/«/y  2d.-All  slept  very  comfortably  indeed.    Rose  at  5  a.  h.    Colling- 
wood  and     went  out  fishing;  Savary  remained  to  put  the  camp  in  ord^ 
a        .rect  he  men    The  day  turned  out  hot  and  sultry,  with  ligl!;  ea,ste  ^ 
wmds.    On  our  go.ng  to  the  river  this  morning,  the  sight  presented  was 
^t  extraordinary.   The  pools  seemed  literally  alive  with  Salmon.   JZ 
h  y  were  ,n  thousands,  rolling  about  in  the  water,  showing  their  back 
w>.se8 ;  others  springing  high  in  air  and  playing  about.    As 
d  see.  ,t  was  the  same.    Collingwood  and  myself  fished  from 
breakfast;  10  to  1 ;  dinner;  3  to  6;  home. 
Score. 
C.    y,   ».  10,  10,  10,  9.  17  =  74  lbs. 

9.10,11,9,10.11,8.9.10  =  87    " 
Total      161  lbs. 
In  the  evening  we  reviewed  on.  .„„p;ng  ,,^  fiJi"^  ^ 

as  suuated  on  the  left  bank  of  u.  stream,  within  a  hundred  yards  71 
™all  stream  that  runs  into  the  S<  ,„  ;  extending  from  this  smaH  .,.er 
th    e  r        ,  ,,.,,„,,  „^  ^^,,^^     ^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^ 

brea  th,  upwards  towards  tl,.  gr.  :  rar^d.  which  is  situated  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  attle  river.  Between  these  two  latter  points 
lies  the  w,    le .  r  our  fishing-rroun,!  *  *  ♦         tu  , 

„«->  1     .  .  Ine  banks 

a     covered     ,tb  ,,ders.  ...  sufficiently  hig'^  to  .revont  one  throwing 

hi  fly  wuh  easo  All  the  fishi,  -.round  is  on  tK.  >  bank  of  the  river 
wUh  the  exception  of  an  island  cl  rothe  .piu.,  n  sixtv  yards  long.' 
I     .g  on  the  r.glu  a.de  of  the  str.  This,  in  the  c    mencement  of  tit 

--son   .s  the  best  stand  on  the  river.    We  find  our  b.^k  hut  to-night  very 


far  as 

''   '    M.  to  » 


618 


AMBRICAN   ANOLBR'8   BOOK. 


I 


comfortable   indeed,  thanks  to   Savary,   who  has   beeu  Buperii.tending 

II  I  »  »  *  *  *  * 

arrangoments  all  day. 

July  3d.— All  up  by  6  a.  m.  Fine  sunny  morninK,  westerly  wind  ;  the 
only  drawback  being  the  rursed  black  fly.  Went  fishing  before  breakfuHt, 
of  course.  During  the  u  .y  fished  for  eight  hours  altogether.  Score  in  the 
evening  as  follows : — 

C.  10,  18,  18,  8,  10,  10,  9,  12,  9  -  101  lbs. 
S.     10,  11,  8                                         -=    29  « 

D.  12,  12,  10,  17,  8,  8,  11,  8,  U,  6,  8  -  111  " 

Total      244  lbs. 

Men  employed  in  putting  up  a  second  bark  hut  for  themselves,  about 
twenty  yards  from  ours,  nearly  finished,  and  very  comfortable.  Usual  hot 
punch  in  the  evening,  and  in  bed  by  U. 

July  4th.— Up  at  5  a.  m.  I'assed  the  day  fishing.  Before  breakfast  I 
hooked  an  immense  •  ih  close  to  the  great  rapid,  and  got  him  safely  over 
Bome  rapids  below  ;  after  playing  him  for  fully  an  hour,  by  which  time  he 
had  taken  me  down  close  to  our  camp,  the  hook  lost  its  hold  just  as  the 
voyageur  was  in  the  very  act  of  gaffing-very  provoking.  Weather  not 
favorable ;  hot,  cloudless,  and  sultry.     Score  in  the  evening  as  follows  :— 

C.  10,  10,  10,  9,  7,  7,  8,  8,  10,  12  =  91  lbs. 

D.  11,  11.  10,  10,  9,  8  --_59  " 

Total      150  lbs. 

Not  having  calculated  on  getting  so  many  fish,  we  find  ourselves  already 
run  out  of  salt ;  so  the  voyageurs  were  sent  off  this  afternoon  in  one  of  the 
boats  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  twenty-seven  miles  distant,  to  procure 
more  salt  and  barrels. 

Sunday,  bth  JtiZy.-Slept  till  a  late  hour.  Strolled  in  the  woods  during 
day.  In  the  evening  went  up  to  the  great  rapids  and  watched  the  Salmon 
moving  about  in  hundreds  below  the  rock  we  were  sitting  on— all  Salmon 
congregating  and  resting  here  for  several  days  before  their  attempting  to 
breast  this  tremendous  rush  of  water.  *  *  On  our  way  home,  "  Trent" 
suddenly  rushed  from  the  woods  and  plunged  into  the  river.  We  saw  his 
head  and  mouth  studded  with  white  objects,  which,  on  getting  nearer,  we 
found  to  be  the  quills  of  a  porcupine,  which  he  came  across  in  the  forest 
and  must  have  attacked.  In  this  instance  the  poor  dog  caught  a  regular 
Tartar,  hundreds  of  quills  sticking  in  his  head  at     inside  his  jaws,  taking 


SALMON    RIVBRS. 


610 


a  quarter  of  an  hour  to  pull  out.  Aftorward«  we  mode  him  lead  the  war 
.0  ho  w.«d,  again,  when  he  brought  uh  to  a  fine  large  porcupine  hiding 
.n  the  cleft  of  a  rock.  After  «on.e  difficulty.  Lynch  and  myself  got  hi» 
into  a  bng  and  took  him  down  to  camp. 

Monday,  m  July.-nM  all  day.  Some  evil  geniu,  certainly  attended 
me-havng  h,K.ked  and  run  no  Iohb  than  18  Salmon,  killing  only  8 ;  the 
hook,  .n  all  instancea  of  those  getting  away,  losing  its  hold.  Some  Indian, 
passed  down  the  river  in  their  canoes  ..day.  and  told  us  that  the  small 
.-land  on  the  right  hand  of  the  stream  (which  I  have  before  alluded  to) 
was  the  best  stand  at  this  season.  CoUingwood  crossed  over  there,  and  his 
success  showed  "the  childrop  of  the  forest"  to  be  well  acquainted  with 
th.s  nvcr.  A  heavy  thunderstorm  came  on  at  midday,  clearing  off  in  the 
afternoon  with  fine  westerly  wind.  The  men  returned  at  8  p.  u.  with  salt 
and  barreld. 

Snore. 
10,  9.  9.  8,  8.  11.  9.  8.  8.  9,  10.  22.  23  -  144  lbs 
7.,  7.  9,  9,  13.  9.  9.  9  =,    73  ..  ' 

10  =    10 


0. 
D. 

S. 


<i 


Total      226  lbs. 


My  7.th.-Begm  to  find  that  early  rising  fatigues  us  too  much  during 
the  day ;  «o  d.d  not  fish  before  breakfast.  Day  very  bright  and  sunny! 
fi«h  .nchned  to  play  w.th  the  fly  instead  of  taking  freely.     Killed  two 

th  Tff         7;r';, '  "''  "'  "  '''  '"''-"  "''  "^«°*«  -  -"'=h  so  that 
the  gaffer  could  hardly  see  the  gaff. 

Score, 
C.    8.10.9.9  =.36,b3. 

D-    8,  8.  8,  6.  7,  9.  8.  11.  10  =  75   " 

Total      111  lbs. 

Score. 

C.    9.10.12,8,8,9,9.9,  ^0,11.  30  =  125  lbs 
D-    9,  10,  7.  10.  18  _    54  ..  ' 

Total      179  lbs. 

/»^^  9th.-Collingwood  and  I  went  up  the  little  riv^xploring  for  about 
four  mdes.     The  water  is  very  low  indeed  now.  so  much  so  tha!  wo  could 


620 


AM 


ERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


I 


,ardly  get  our  boat  along.  Saw  a  few  Salmon  in  the  pools.  I  du^  not 
fil  CoUingwood  took  a  east  and  killed  one.  Weather  hot.  br.ght  and 
^ar.  Last  night  we  had  so,ne  sharp  frost,  and  to-day  we  remark  he 
Hack  flies  to  be  much  less  numerous,  and  not  so  v>cu,us  as  before.  1  s  n 
cerely  hope  this  may  be  the  beginning  of  their  disappearance.  Th  ee 
ITes  up  the  little  river  we  found  rather  pretty  falls,  and  no  doubt  the 
;l  below  contain  Salmon ;  but  at  present  the  water  is  too  low  and  clear 
for  them  to  take  a  fly.     Savary  remained  at  home  fishmg. 

Score. 

S.    7.  9  =  16  lbs. 

C.    9      =    9  " 

Total      25  lbs. 
My  10th.-Very  hot.  sultry  day.    I  fished  very  little,  having  an  attack 

"'SrtwJc!ffi!7came  up  in  their  bark  canoe  to-day.  to  pay  us  a  visit 
Remained  at  our  camp  during  night.    CoUingwood  fished  from  tae  .land 
all  day.    Savary  putting  up  nicknacks  abo-t  camp. 

(Score. 

C.  10,  10.  10.  9.  9.  9,  9.  8.  9.  10.  10.  14  =  117  lbs. 

D.  9,13.8,8  -_JZ 

Total      155  lbs. 

July  llth.-A  bright  sunny  day.  and  little  wind.  River  very  low.  and 
water  clear  as  amber.  Quite  unfit  for  fishing.  The  finest  throwing 
requu-ed.  and  very  small  fly  indeed-uot  much  bigger  than  small  salmon- 
trout  flics.  If  we  do  not  soon  get  rain.  I  fear  our  sport  must  cease.  The 
Salmon  may  be  counted  by  scores  lying  in  every  pool  so  clear  is  the  water 
The  Coffins  left  us  this  morning  early  for  the  mouth  of  th«  nver.  to  look 
after  their  nets.  ^^^^^_ 

C.  9,  10.  10.  12  =  41  lbs. 
S.     19  -  10   " 

D.  7,  9,  10  =26  " 

Total      86  lbs. 

S,mlay,  \2th  My.-Vrayors  read  by  CoUingwood  at  11.  Loitered  about 
durin.  the  day.  In  the  evening  wo  walked  across  the  portage  through  tho 
woods^bove  tho  groat  rapids.     Saw  lots  of  Salmon-seals  along  the  track 


no  sun. 


SALMON   RIVERS. 


621 


no  doubt;  fish  killed  by  thelndians  incur  pools  during  the  night  by 
torchhgh,  although  I  can't  say  we  are  at  all  annoyed  by  such  depreda- 

rrz;  rir" '-''  -' "-  ---  -« -^  -  --  '^ 

clout  thanT'^'T  T- "'^  ""'  '^"""^  *"'^^^'  ^'^•^  ^-  «-  -i*h  .ore 

tor  Tar     .        "'  ''"""•  ^"^  ^^"-     "^°"-"'"  *•>«  fi^J^ery 

u    hu    d  "'  ?  "'  "'  ^"'"^^  '""  ^''^  """^'^  ^^  *^«  ™-     Slept  in 

ote  Lf      ;       f  '''  "'*'  °"  ^'^^  ^y  '  *'^^  -  S^*-^«^y-    Body 

.  Ifth  fish  earned  U  away,  along  with  casting-line  and  part  of  ™y  reel- 
line  down  a  rapid  so  late  at  night  and  so  dark  that  I  could  hardly  see. 

Score. 

^"     ■""  =    10   " 

D.    10,  10,  10,  10,  10,  10,  9,  9,  9,  9,  7  =  103   " 

Total      139  lbs. 

/«?y  14th.-Bright  weather  again  and  low  water  c^nue  fatal  to  fish- 

had  1  r/'  1°«  ''""'  "  "'^''''^  "^  "P  ^  casting-line;-the  only  one 
I  had  Ut  from  the  fire,  carried  away  last  night.  I  fished  little.  C.  killed 
the  first  Gnlse  seen  to-day-a  beautiful  little  fish,  two  pounds  in  weight. 
Boileau  left  us  after  dinner.  ^ 

Score. 
C.    2,  9,  9,  22,  12,  10  =  04  lbs. 

notun  ''t~''Tl '""  '"'"  '"^'  "'*'  ^  '"^^''"^'  --  occasionally, 
no  sun.    No  use  fishing  now,  unless  in  the  forenoon  and  late  evening.       ' 

/Score. 

C.  8,  11  =  19  lbs.     ■ 
S.     9        =    9  " 

D.  10     =  10  »  ; 

Total    38  lbs. 

/«Zy  lOth.-Close,  sultry  day.     Fished  little,  and  got  nothing.    *    *    * 
Savary  found  an  old  Indian  birch  canoe  in  the  woods  to-day ;  he  has  it 

My  lah.-My  dysentery  so  bad  as  to  confine  me  entirely  to  camp  to- 


622 


AMERICAN    ANQLEK'S   BOOK, 


ii 


day.  Too  much  fresh  rich  salmon  doubtless  the  cause.  Savary  busy 
;Lg  the  materials  for  the  repair  of  the  canoe  Colhngw<.d  iished  m 
the  morning  and  evening,  but  though  trying  carefully  only  kUled 

10,  8  =  18  lbs. 
My  18th.-Hot,  sultry,  dry  weather;  no  fishing.  Savary  up  to  his  eyes 
.ith  the  men.  making  arrangements  for  repairing  the  c-e.  Purpo-g  an 
ascent  of  the  river  for  twenty-seven  miles  more,  at  -^h>ch  pomt  it 
a  vidl  into  two  branches  (so  say  the  Indians),  on  each  of  wh.ch  there  is 
a  fall  Below  those  fulls  the  Salmon  congregate  in  great  numbers,  trying 
to  ascend  them.  No  doubt  extraordinary  sport  would  be  got  up  there  if 
I  Iter  suited.  Collingwood  and  myself  tried  for  seals  in  the  evening, 
but  got  none,  although  we  saw  several. 

Sunday,  My  19th._Close,  dull,  sultry  morning.  Heavy  sho.ers  o 
J:oon.'which  unfortunately  cleared  o^  ^y  afternc^n.  We  were  mdulg- 
ing  a  vain  hope  that  rain  might  continue  and  flood  the  river. 

U20th.-Dull,  heavy  morning;  drizzling  rain,     ^--y  ^^ing  at 
hifcan!     which  is  being  patched  up  well.    I  tried  to  fish  ;  but  as  I  did 
':  w  dton  account  of  my  attack  of  dysentery,  had  little  sport  ^ook^ 
one  fish  and  lost  him.     Collingwood  killed  three  fish  and  1  «t  tw-     Au 
Indian  with  his  squaw  and  two  children  came  up  river  to-day,  and  has 
ied  his  camp  close  to  the  great  rapids.  -Sam  Miskind"  by  name  a 
fin?specimen  of  a  man.  and  a  laughing,  jolly  fellov.  ;  speaks  English  and 
Frnch     Passed  the  evening  in  our  hut.    We  gave  him  a  Salmon  and 
l:Zn  trap ;  the  l.tto.  he  prizes  much,  being  on  an  expedition  into  the 

interior  to  trap  for  furs,  &c. 

Score. 

8,  10.  U  =  29  lbs. 

My  21st  -Heavy  rain  in  the  morning.  My  ailment  very  much  worse 
X  from  getting  wet  yesterday  in  all  probability,  after  taking  opium 
^d  me  cury   he  day  before.    Had  to  remain  in  all  day  till  evening,  when 

iTa  line  over  lit' e  river,  killing  a  fine  3  lb.  Trout.  Savary  parsed  the 
aay  It  the  Indian's  camp,  where  he  has  the  canoe ;  the  Indian  gumming 
up  the  cracks  in  it  for  him.    Collingwood  fished  all  day. 

/Score. 

C.  7,  7,  9  =  23  lbs. 

D.  Trout  3  lbs.  *" 

M„  2-.d.-Ueavv  nin  d«ri„s  l»-t  «'%^>,  "h-"  «'"'■«'  """^  1'-' "'»"'• 
,.g     S»v„y.  Com;...>od,  and  F,ur„i,r  loft  a,,  .„  ea,.,  h„u,  ..ft  ca.o. 


SALMON   RIVERS. 


628 


to  go  „p  the  river  to  the  falls,  said  to  be  twenty-seven  miles  further 
mland.      ********^^^^ 

tho^"t  f  tr"^  i'T'"'  ''^-  ^"'^  ^"^''""S  from  my  uneasy  ailment, 
though  better.  Could  not  fish  of  course;  unfortunate,  as  the  river  is  in 
very  good  order  after  the  rain. 

J"''  ''*tT,^r  '''^-  ^'''  ""''  ^^"^^  ■'  «°"'^  °°*  '««'«*  fishing  in  the 
evening.     K.lled  one  Salmon,  and  lost  another  from  something  going 

wrong  w.th  my  reel,  which  suddenly  stopped  short  in  the  middle  of  I 
rush,  the  casting-line  giving  way.  I  fear  most  of  the  fish  have  gone  up 
river,  as  I  did  not  see  many  to-day. 

Score, 
D.     10  lbs. 
/«J,25th.-yery  bright  day.    Water  clear  as  over  again.     Fished  in 
the  forenoon,   but  did  not  get  a  single  rise.    Killed  two  fish  and  lost 
another  after  sundown.        *        *        *        *       Great  fun  with  ■•  Trent" 
to^ay.    He  has  formed  the  most  extraordinary  liking  for  Salmon ;  it  is 
w.th  difficulty  sometimes  he  is  restrained  from  supplying  the  place  of  the 
gaffer     I  don't  like  to  risk  letting  him  retrieve  a  large  Salmon,  but 
severa  times  we  have  been  much  amused  with  him  retrieving  large  Trout 
from  the  water.    He  has  become  expert  at  it  now.  but  the  rushes  of  th. 
Irou.  occasionally  entangled  him  sadly  in  the  line.    It  is  remarkable  how 
well  the  old  dog  knows  when  a  Salmon  is  hooked,  getting  into  a  high  state 
of  excitement  and  watching  the  line  most  intensely.     My  servant,  before 
pulling  me  across  rather  a  rapid  current  of  the  riv.r  to-day,  sat  on  a  stone 
took  a  pipe  from  his  mouth,  and  said,  "  You   oc  thay  rapid,  sur  ?"  "  Ye.  " 
"Well,  sixteen  out  of  seventeen  people  wur  drowned  in  that  wather"" 
';  In  there  ?  how  do  you  know  V   "  No,  no,  sur.  not  in  there,  but  in  a  place 
just  loike  It  near  Cork  in  Oireland.    You  see  there  were  seventeen  men  in 
he  boat,  and  three  of  them  wur  women,     When  she  gits  into  the  jabber 
thim  women  shouted  and  jumps  to  one  soide.  and  the  boat  turned  inside 
out;  every  mother's  son  was  drowned  but  one  man,  Pat  Cregan.  ho  could 
swim.    Ihem  women  is  the  ferfullest  things  iver  got  into  a  boat  " 

.S'«n<%,  Jul,  2(;th.-LoveIy  day.  Strolled  about  in  the  woods.  Savary 
and  Coli.ngwood  returned  from  their  trip  up  the  river  at  5  v.  „  They 
give  wonderful  accounts  of  the  Salmon  at  the  upper  fork.  On  the  right 
branch  about  two  miles  from  the  fork  there  is  a  fall,  about  ten  feet  high 
the  Salmon  jumping  there  incessantly,  sometimes  half  a  dozen  in  the  air 
at  once.    The  fish  get  much  bruiaed  in  their  attempts  to  get  over  the  fall  • 


1    I 


ib-^J'^' 


624 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


they  found  one  enormous  30  lb.  fish  lying  at  the  edge  of  the  fall  in 
Bhallow  water,  so  bruised  and  cut  from  being  dashed  against  the  rocks, 
that  though  in  high  fleshy  condition,  he  allowed  himself  to  be  lifted  out 
of  the  water.    He  was  however  left  there,  poor  thing,  and  died  the  second 
day.     Saw  an  immense  black  bear  at  the  falls;  came  within  thirty  yards; 
numbers  of  them  collect  thtre  after  the  Salmon.    The  Indian  Miskind  says 
a  similar  fall  exists  three  miles  up  the  left  fork,  and  that  the  great  mass 
of  fish  go  up  this  fork  in  preference  to  the  right.    The  fish  however,  he 
says,  overcome  both  falls,  and  advance  to  the  very  sources  of  the  river,  280 
miles  inland.    Collingwood  killed  thirteen  fish,  nearly  all  in  one  day; 
their  weight  7,  7.  7,  7,  8,  9,  9,  9,  7,  7,  9,  9,  9 :  and  Fournier  gaffed  one  of 
15  lbs.  out  of  the  foaming  water.     Any  number  might  have  been  gaffed 
in  this  way.     Not  a  good  fishing-ground— only  one  pool  close  to  the  fall, 
and  fearful  rapids  below  ;  so  unless  tackle  is  A  1,  the  fish  gets  into  those 
rapids  and  must  get  away— no  following  him.    Collingwood  lost  a  great 
number  in  this  way.     Some  fine  pools  exist  a  mile  below  the  falls,  but  at 
this  late  season  all  fish  had  gone  further  up.     The  ground  at  the  bottom 
of  the  fall  pool,  they  say,  is  regularly  littered  with  thousands  of  Salmon. 
Took  two  aiiys  going  up,  but  might  have  done  it  in  one,  it  being  about 
twenty  miles  up  from  the  great  rapid,  not  twenty-seven.    Report  number- 
less bear-tracks  about  the  place,  as  also  cariboo.    The  Indian  says  num- 
bers of  the  former  frequent  the  place  to  watch  the  "  Pot."    This,  I  rather 
think,  does  not  now  exist— in  all  probability  filled  up  with  stones,  &c. ; 
but  in  former  days,  the  Indians  say,  a  large  hole  filled  with  water  lay 
close  to  the  fall,  and  above  it.     Salmon  used  to  jump  into  it  in  leaping  up 
the  falls ;  and,  there  being  no  means  of  exit  from  it,  they  say  the  fish 
might  be  seen  lying  dead  in  it  by  hundreus. 

My  servant  was  fishing  for  Trout  to-day,  behind  the  camp,  with  bait.  I 
remarked  him  pull  on.  out  of  the  water  about  the  length  of  his  finger, 
with  a  swing  of  the  rod  enough  to  raise  a  hundred  weight.  He  picked  up 
the  little  fis.'v.  pulled  out  its  gills  for  bait,  then  returned  it  to  the  water. 
I  asked  him,  "  Why  throw  it  away  ?"  "  Sure  it's  no  use  so  small  as  that, 
and  it  will  grow."  "  But  don't  you  see  it's  dead  ?"  "  Oh  Lord,  sir  1  never 
you  heed  it.  Thim  young  Trouts  is  the  most  desatefullest  things  as  be ; 
sure  he  purtinds  to  all  that,  but  whin  he  gets  into  the  deep  water,  he'll 
soon  away  nate  and  cliver." 

July  27th.-IIeavy  rain  last  night.    I  did  not  fish  till  evening;  then  for 
about  an  hour.   Collingwood  at  it  all  day,  killing  three  Salmon  and  losing 


SALMON    RIVERS. 


625 


Score, 

C.  8,  8,  10,  11  =  37  lbs. 

D.  20  " 

Total      47  lbs. 
Jshef  inTr"""  :  '""■"  *"°«-'»'»~^«ri„g  night     Lovely  day. 
l.;etherC„lI,„g„«,d„rmj,elf.    They  are  ,erj  .hj  i„de,J.  •    »    .    . 
J^.;?  ffltt-Up  early.    Breakfaated  and  prepared  for  our  journey    Got 
almon  barrel,  .^„ed  in  .he  bo...,  and  .be  few  ,e„n.nU  loft  u  Zhe  £ 
.  u,o„  h  ago.    Propped  o„r  bark  b„..  fron,  «,e  ineide  .„  ..ppor.'h    r^T 
wben  laden  w,.h  .now  in  ,be  winter,  el„.»i  .b,  door,  and    eft    he™  .^ 
-ecure  a.  we  eould.  looting  forward  .o  .heir  being  of  „.e  .„  „.  ZZZ 
body  else  at  a  .aturo  day.    **#**:. 

We  here  bid  farewell  to  the  explorers  of  the  St.  John  :  I  infer 
at  least  that  they  were  pioneers,  so  far  as  rod-fishing  is  concerned      I 
regret  that  I  am  unable  to  give  the  reader  the  whole  of  their  enter- 
ta.mng  journal.     On  arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  St.  John,  and 
wa.t.ng  ,n  va,n  for  a  steamer  for  Quebec  to  pass,  they  chartered  a 
httle  craft  of  th.rty  tons,  with  an  ignorant,  boorish  fellow  for  its  mas- 
er.     After  rather  a  perilous  voyage  groping  about  for  four  days  in 
he  fog  so  common  .n  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  they  reached  Perce, 
a  httle  hsh.ng  town  thirty  miles  south  of  Gasp^;  here  they  applied 
to  the  pnncpal  merchant  of  the  place,  told  their  tale  of  disaster  by 
fire   and   adventures   by    water,   and   prevailed  on   him,   though   a 
^^trang.r,to  advance  them  the  money  they  needed;  and  when"  the 
.teamer      Lady  Head"  touched  there  on  a  return  trip,  embarked  for 
yaebec,      and  went  on  their  way  rejoicing." 


40 


m 


fliiffli 


M  jjp 


AME 


RICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


THE    MOISIE. 
THK  following  letter  and  account  of  the  Salmon-fishing  in  this 
river,  in  the  years  1863,  is  from  a  gentleman  of  Boston. 

Boston,  February  7,  1865. 

Thaddeus  Norris,  Esq., 

Philadelphia.  .    „  ,      ,      „j  ♦„ 

D.ar  Sir  ■  I  h»ve  y.«r  letter  of  the  411,  inefnt,  ..d  .hall  be  rle..ed  tt 

.1:  ':„;  iniulrlel  In  «>  legl^e  ,  »..=er  »  ..  .tt„k  o,  the  angle-  . 

,„1     oreOikethe«.ie>t«odWl.io„.-.he..t.«.hing,exte„d.ng.. 

Z\>  the  tide  «ow»  up  ....  river,  to  one  part-,,  and  the  '—;'*; 

*"  ^,       .„     Tlipsft  rivers  are  leasea  oy  oias, 

rivpr  for  flv-fishinR.  to  another  party,     ihese  n\erj  u 
:«;     ear.  »d  one  .e»e  ha.  empire..-    O^ing  to  the  .ant  „f  any  .,. 

lit  exchange  with  Canada,  one  i.  oMiged  to  .end  the  .meant  of  h  . 

u!  a  nnally  on  th.  15th  of  Mareh,  in  gold,  by  expre..  <«;'-  ""P""; 

,  It  Onehee     I  .appo.e  th.  Moi.l.  to  be  already  l.a.ed,  and  at  all 

,?r„rheliL.»y  Amer,ean.»m  be  allowed  to  hire  it.  not  on 

rl    f  al  M  n?;'ain..  then,  at  th.  Department,  but  Wan.,  the 

I":;:  :LeT.  -  .;.  C..adi.n  ..hermen  ,ill  malt,  an  .fort  to  retam 

*iL«:e:::";™"".-----""rror^^^ 

ine  luoiMt.  t.  e  ghteen  miles  from  the 

'"  r '  ° TilrlT-th    h  I*:.      re    It  ..oU  bemw  the  fall.. 

"t;;:  tf^    hl^rmil..  from  Qnebeo.  and  onr  «r.t  two  trip. 

Z,.  Mn„'  -ehooner,.  which  w.  oh.rt.red  for  the  tnp  at  Quebec, 

Ttl  1  up'  t-i    ccn  day.,  on  the  voy.g.  down,  the  wind  on  th. 

.     r  71  fi,hcrm.n     Th»  l..t  three  year.,  the  Government  have 

1  the  different  lighthoa.e, ;  the  trip  down,  co.tmg  for  a  party  of 
17  U  "  ^men  .n.rhaggage,  about  two  hundred  dollar.  Ml  t  e.e 
*  ;  „,„,t  h.  «.hed  fr..m  .„... ;  and  a.  .be  current  «  v.ry  .trong,  ach 
;  ir  n«d.  a  boat  and  two  men ;  «.d  the-e  boat.,  w,.h  every  art,cle  of 
rrotion.  clothing,  .n^camp^a«iP»S-^^ 

-TZ:;^^::^^^.^-  .^.t ...  bo..»  m»a„  «,„,.. ».  ..a  w, .... ...» 

up  the  MoUie. 


Uiitca. 

June  21 
"  23 
"  24 
"  26 
"  27 
"  28 
"  29 
"  30 
July  1 
"   2 
"   3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
0 

"  11  20 
"  12  6 
"  13 
"  14 
"  1.5 

"  16 
«  ij 


tt 

4 

1 

5 

*t 

6 

a 

7 

ii 

8 

(f 

9 

a 

10 

SALMON   RIVERS. 


627 


I  think  that,  by  writing  to  Mr.  Whiteher.  you  oould  get  a  river  very 

be  than  the  Mo.h.o.  You  should  allow  for  an  absence  of  eight  wee ^ 
^n  the  above  arrangement.  I  have  left  you  to  some  chance  arfangre: 
with  a  fishing  vessel,  for  your  passage  up. 

You  ought  on  your  first  trip  to  have  at  least  a  week  in  Quebec  before 
starting  for  your  river,  to  give  you  time  to  engage  your  .en-aJl 
annoy^g  process,  wherever  French  Canadians  II  concern  d-nH 
W  your  provisions  packed.    You  ought  to  start  fron.  Quebec  about  th^ 

Very  truly  your  friend, 

Moses  B.  Williams. 
Weights  of  Salmon  killed  by  three  Bods  in  the  Moisie  in  1862  an^  isfi.  , 
the  Messrs.  Bacon  and  Mr.  Will iZl,  Hilton  ''''  '' 

'''''  18G3.   * 


The  10  largest  Salmon  average   32  1-10 
pounds  each. 

The  20  largest  average  29  2-5  lbs.  each. 
The  whole  number  average  16i  lbs.  each. 


Total  .318  Salmon  4815    lbs. 


I'  ■« 


Average  weight  16  1-7  pounds  each. 


628 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


THE  GOODBOUT. 
This  stream,  although  it  has  been  mentioned  in  a  genera!  way, 
Btill  deserves  a  more  special  notice,  on  account  of  its  celebnty  as  a 
Salmon  river.     Dr.  Adamson,  who  has  fished  it  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  gives  a  minute  description  of  it,  in  his  entertaming  book, 
I  Salmon  Fishing  in   Canada,"  illustrated  by  a  chart  of  the  pools. 
The  famous  upper  pool  appears  as  a  frontispiece  to  his  book      Like 
„.ost  Salmon  rivers,  the  fishing  on  it  varies.     According  to  the  Doc- 
tor's book.  Captain  J.  M.  Strachan,  of  Toronto,  whose  remarkable  score 
of  large  fish  for  the  year  18(^8  in  the  Moisie,  is  recorded  on  p.  385 
of  this  volume,  killed  in  the  Goodbout  forty-two  Salmon  in  parts  of 
two  days,  while  in  1849,  the  Doctor's  catch  was  only  twenty-one  fish 

in  two  weeks. 

The  following  description  of  a  trip  to  the  Goodbout,  as  nearly  a« 
can  be  recalled,  is  given  from  a  verbal  account  by  R.  h-  P.,  m.^^ 
Philadelphia,  who  fished  it  last  summer,  in  company  with  two  anglers 
of  Quebec. 

..  Left  Quebec  June  17th.  at  4  p.  m..  on  board  steamer  Napoleon  III.,  for 
the  Goodbout,  two  hundred  miles  down  the  St.  Lawrence.  Armed  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th.  wind  blowing  heavy  from  north-west;  some  appre- 
hensions as  t.  landing;  Indians  came  out  in  a  sail-boat,  and  after  some 
difficulty  landed  our  party  of  three  anglers,  with  men.  cots,  stores,  camp 
equipage.  &c.  Went  up  the  Goodbout  two  miles  to  camping-ground. 
Water  low,  hard  to  get  over  the  shoals. 

«The  river  opposite  the  camp  is  divided  by  an  island  several  hundred 
yards  long,  the  channel  on  each  side  being  a  succession  of  rapids,  or  rather  a 
Lgle  rupid  with  now  and  then,  for  a  short  distance,  water  le-  turbu^'^  ; 
Th!  pool  below  the  camp  is  called  the  Lower  or  Camp  Pool.   /^^  g-^^^ 
the  first  of  the  season  or  in  time  of  a  freshet.     'Bell  Pool  (looking  up 
learn    is  on  the  left  of  the  island,  and  'Glassy'  in  the  channel  on  th 
g  t     '  Shea  Pool'  is  at  the  head  of  the  island,  about  two  miles  a    v 
camp     A  mile  further  on  is  '  Indian  Pool,'  and  immediat  ,ly  au.e  t  the 
Haywood.'     Upper  Pool  is  three  miles  beyond  the  Haywood,  and  can 
0  l7be  approached  on  fc.t.  over  an  exceedingly  steep  hil      Beyond  this 
po^l  all  the'river  for  a  long  distance  is  wild,  dashing,  rapid,  an      rom  al 
account,  the  river,  has  never  been  fished  with  the  rod  above  it.    The 


SALMON   RIVERS. 


629 


a  general  way, 
ts  celebrity  as  a 
)r  nearly  twenty 
itertaining  book, 
art  of  the  pools. 
I  his  book.     Like 
rding  to  the  Doc- 
3  remarkable  score 
corded  on  p.  385 
dmon  in  parts  of 
ly  cwenty-one  fish 

Ibout,  as  nearly  afl 
a.  H.  P.,  Esq.,  of 
y  with  two  anglers 

r  Napoleon  III.,  for 
ice.  Arrived  on  the 
i-west;  some  appre- 
)Oftt,  and  after  some 
n,  cots,  stores,  camp 
to  camping-ground. 

md  several  hundred 
of  rapids,  or  rather  a 
water  less  turbulent. 
)  Pool.     It  is  good  at 
ell  Pool'  (looking  up 
1  the  channel  on  the 
bout  two  miles  above 
ledial  )ly  ati«we  it  the 
e  Haywood,  and  can 
ip  hill.     Beyond  this 
5,  rapid,  and  from  all 
e  rod  above  it.    The 


Salmon  are  fra.uently  fonn^  '  ,re  in  large  numbers,  where  they  rest  some 
days  before  attempting  the  .ruble  chute  above." 

The  following  is  the  score  of  the  three  rods  :— 


June  23. 

"  24. 

"  26. 

"  27. 

"  28. 

"  29. 

"  30. 

July  1. 


3  Fish. 

4  " 
6 

12 
7 
7 
3 
6 


4.  17 

6.  14 
«.  7 

7.  12 

8.  2 


« 
« 

« 


10 
11 

8 
13 

7 

7 

3 

3 


« 

«< 

« 
« 

« 
« 

(< 

« 

<< 

« 

« 

« 

It 

II 

II 


9. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
18. 

19-      1  Grilse.     Weight  3J   " 
22  day«,  162  fl.h.    ToUl  weight,  1508  lbs. ;  ,0  largest  weighed  166i  lbs:  o, 
on  an  average  16§  lbs. 


Largest  8 

lbs 

« 

9 

II 

(( 

91 

II 

II 

10 

II 

II 

19 

II 

It 

20 

II 

« 

9i 

« 

10 

II 

11 

II 

11 

II 

11 

II 

14i 

II 

18 

II 

13 

II 

11 

II 

10 

II 

10 

II 

111 

« 

18 

II 

8 

II 

11 

THE  GREAT  NATASHQUAN. 

JZ  ^''\^T""^""  ^"^^  *^'  ^"'^  '^  ^*-  ^^^^«"««'  i°  ^I'out 
50    10'  N    and  61o  45'  E.     I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  C.  K.  Fiske,  of 

St.  John,  New  Brunswick,  one  of  a  party  who  viaited  it  last  summer, 
for  an  interesting  description  of  the  stream,  as  well  as  a  chart,  drawn 
from  memory,  with  a  lead  pencil,  which  shows  that  he  is  no  ordinary 
topographer.  J.  De  W.  Spurr,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Doctor's  companions 
with  two  other  Salmon-fishers,  had  explored  the  Great  Natashquan 
he  previous  summer  (1863),  and  had  immense  sport,  killing  between 
four  and  five  hundred  fish. 

The  chart  alluded  to  shows  that  there  are  four  different  stations  • 
namely,  at  the  first  falls,  twelve  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river' 
at  the  second  falls,  about  fifteen ;  at  the  third,  two  miles  further  on ;  ani 


liui-i 


m 


eso 


AMERICAN    ANGLEH'B   BOOK. 


at  the  fourth,  twenty  miles  above  the  mouth;   beyond      h.o     the 
Salmon  do  not  ascend.     At  these  lu«t  falls,  th.  chart  3hows  a        m 
of  rocks,  or  snmll  islands,  each  separated  from  the  other  and  exteud. 
ing  at  a  shar,  angle  diagonally  across  the  river.     These  ...de  the 
stream  into  four  distinct  falls,  or  pitches  as  they  are  termed,  of  forty 
feet.     The  pools  at  the  upper,  which  are  on  the  west  s.dc  aflford   he 
best  sport.     Two-thirds  of  the  way  up  between  the  mouth  a.i  the 
first  falls,  the  river  .preads  out  to  more  than  twice   its  or    nary 
^idth,  and  is  divided  by  three  islands  into  as  many  ^^^-^^  ^^ 
if  rnpids  and  pools  arc  found  there,  the  idea  is  suggested  tha   ther 
„.ay  be  fishing  there  also  at  certain  stages  of  water.     The  channel 
between  the   larger   island  and   the  western  bank  there  is  calle, 
u  Dead  River" ;  and  in  ascending,  it  is  the  course  taken  when  the 

water  is  not  too  high.  ,     ,»„ 

After  this  brief  prelude,  I  refer  the  reader  to  my  correspondents 

^^^^-  ST.JonN,N.B.,Jlfarc;i7,1865. 

My  Dca.  '■■ '  •  Tour  letter  dated  25th  February  was  duly  received,  but 
havin,  be...  ..ch  engaged,  I  have  not  found  time  to  ^^V^y ^^[^^^^-^^ 

I  fear  H  .^  '.«  information  I  can  give  will  add  but  httle  to  The  Ame- 
rican  Angler  .  Book."  as  I  am  no  draughtsman  and  can  scarcely  give  you 
a  plan  of  the  Natashquan ;  but  am  happy  to  give  a  short  account  of  our 
adventures  to  that  excellent  Sabnon  river. 

Our  party  was  made  up  of  four  angler.  J.  De  Wolf  purr.  Esq..  Colonel 
Tryon.  John  Kinnear.  Esq..  and  myself,  who  left  St.  John  on  the  21st  of 
•  June.  1864,  proceeding  by  rail  to  Shediac.  and  from  thence  to  Gasp  by  the 
steamer  Lady  Head,  where  we  chartered  a  schooner  ^^  ^bo^t  for^^^^^^^ 
for  the  mouth  of  the  Natashqu.n,  where  we  arrived  on  the  30th  oi  June, 
and  proceeded  directly  up  the  river  to  the  first  fall. 
We  took  our  supplies  from  St.  John,  and  picked  up  our  men  at  Bathurst 

and  Gaapfe,  six  of  them  in  all. 

At  the  first  fall  our  prospects  for  sport  were  not  very  flattering,  on  account 
ot  lack  of  water  to  bring  the  fish  up  the  river,  past  the  nets  near  the  mouth ; 
accordingly  two  of  our  party  proceeded  up  the  stream  to  the  fourth  fall. 
Mr.  Spurr  and  I  remaining  behind.  ,    .    ,.       •  ; 

I  remained  on  the  river  seventeen  days,  and  fished  mostly  m  the  vicx- 
Bity  of  the  first  fall,  and  killed  in  that  time  only  33  Salmon,  averaging 


S      r.MON    RIVERS. 


631 


about  8  11.  ....        vhile  the  y...  previous,  the  «ame  amouat  ..1  hard  work 

w  luld  have  secured  a  hundn-d  or  more. 
The  gontle^on  who  vo„.  up  the  stream  killed  a  greater  number  offish, 

but  hey  are  uot  so  IV.  .1.  and  strong  as  those  at  the  lower  pools. 
Ih.re  are  sevoral  excellent  pools  near  the  lower  fall..,  whore  most  exciting 

sport  can  be  had,  in  consequence  of  the  diffioul    os  of  snvi„g  the  fish  after 

huoKi,,,     uom,  requiring  the  best  and  most  perl.ot  tack 

At  Hn.  second  fall  there  are  several  good  pools  w  ,,  of  the  ex 

perienced  angler  will  discover  at  once,  yet  it  wou^  ,  ,,esirable  to' 

have  for  a  companion  a  friend  who  had  previously  ,  stream    Be- 

tween  the  first  and  second  fails  there  are  also  .hich  afford  good 

«por        .ovtain  stages  of  the  water.    The  third  fai,  ,    o  miles  further  on 
does  not  ^.ve  much  sport,  so  far  as  I  could  learn,  but  Salmon  have  been 
caught  there  «t  times  at  the  top  of  the  pitch  and  in  the  remarkable  step, 
uear  the  to,  ,.bably  the  greatest  number  of  fi.h  can  be  taken  with  fly 

and  rod  at  »  .th  f.Ul  (a  mile  or  two  above),  which  is  divided  into  four 

several  pitckc,      ,  islands,  a  most  remarkable  feature  in  the  beauties  of 
this  fine  Salmon  river. 

I  did  not  fish  at  all  at  this  locality,  but  on  several  visits  to  my  compa- 
mons  learned  that  the  best  pools  are  at  the  upper  end  of  the  first  island 
It  my  memory  serves  me  right, 

_  To  go  back  to  the  second  fall,  I  may  here  add  tha*  is  is  also  divided 
into  three  pitches  by  islands.  The  steps  in  the  small  pitch  are  most 
remarkable;  dry  at  low  water,  and  good  pools  when  the  water  is  at 
medium  height ;  as  the  water  falls,  rhe  fish  remaining  in  the  steps  can  be 
taken  in  large  quantities  with  the  spear  or  gaff;  but  no  sportsman  will  do 
this  on  any  account.  While  my  back  was  turned,  one  of  my  men  gaffed 
a  fish,  but  I  put  an  end  to  such  poaching  at  ,nce.  I  fear  that  from  this 
one  act,  discredit  was  brought  upon  our  ,,arty,  n  Mr.  Whitcher  ha« 
reprimanded  us  severely  for  something  ,     more  criminal. 

The  temptation  to  use  the  gaff  was  very  great  on  these  occasions,  but  I 
would  a.l  vise  all  persons  who  purchase  the  right  to  angle  on  this  river,  not  to 
allow  their  men  to  take  a  fish  with  gaff  or  spear.  I  could  have  taken  a 
hundred  in  two  days  out  of  these  little  steps  or  pools,  but  I  did  not  go  to 
the  coast  of  Labrador  for  such  poaxjhing.  The  fishermen  who  pay  for  not- 
ting  privileges  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  have  been  dealt  very  strictly  with 
and  last  year  had  their  nets  taken  from  them  ;  and  in  consequence  of  this 
the  anglers  at  the  pools  above  are  closely  watched,  and  any  act  of  poach- 
ing IS  promptly  reported  to  Mr.  Whitcher;  and  many  hard  stories  have 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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4 


682 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


been  told  of  the  gentlemen  who  paid  for  angling  there  last  year  wiiich  are 
•X     r  *  „*=  *         *        *         I  do  not  blame  Mr.  Whitcher 

the  opposite  of  tacts.  wi.  i. 

for  his  desire  to  protect  the  Salmon-fisheries  of  Canada,  but  I  feel  that  we 

have  been  unjustly  censured.  ,  .„  j        n 

I  might  here  add  that  gentlemen  visiting  the  Natashquan  will  do  well 
to  take  with  them  a  Spencer  repeating  rifle,  ic  keep  off  the  seals  from  the 
lower  pools ;  this  will  not  only  afford  good  sport,  but  be  effectual  m  keep- 
ing  the  seals  from  deslroying  all  possible  angling  in  the  vicinity  of  tht 
first  fall.  Yours  faithfully.  ^^^^^^^ 

Thaddeus  Nobris.  Esq.. 

Philadelphia. 

This  river  has  been  leased  for  this  and  several  succeeding  summers 
by  R.  H.  Powell,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia. 


THE  NIPISSIGUIT. 

After  having  made  special  mention  of  the  Salmon-fifuing  in  some 
of  the  fine  rivers  of  Canada,  it  would  be  inconsistent  not  to  give 
some  account  of  the  sport  which  this  stream  has  afforded,  and  may  still 
continue  to  give,  if  properly  protected  from  net  and  spear.  I  have 
already  described  the  river  itself,  and  manner  of  reaching  it,  m  this 

volume. 

To  all  who  have  fished  it,  this  is  the  beau  ideal  of  a  Salmon  river; 
and  it  is  probable  that  more  fish  have  been  killed  on  it  with  the  rod, 
than  on  any  other  stream  in  the  British  Provinces.     From  all  ac 
counts  the  first  fishing  on  it  was  by  Messrs.  De  Blois,  Gilmore,  and 
other  anglers  of  the  province,  when,  about  seventeen  years  back,  Mr. 
Haggerty,of  New  York,  visited  it,  and  introduced  Captain  Cooper,  a 
retired  British  officer,  who  for  many  years,  and  as  long  as  he  lived, 
came  every  year  from  England  to  spend  his  summer  at  the  Grand 
Falls  keeping  his  knowledge  of  the  capacities  of  the  river  as  much 
as  possible  a  secret  from  other  British  anglers.     This  party  was  soon 
joined  by  Messrs.  Emmet  and  Lilly  of  New  York,  the  latter  having 
the  reputation  amongst  the  canoemen  of  being  the  most  expert  and 


SALMON   RIVERS 


683 


successful  fisher  that  ever  cast  a  fly  on  its  waters.  One  of  his  feats 
was  the  iciling  of  twenty-two  Salmon,  at  the  Grand  Falls  station,  in 
one  morning,  before  10  a.  m.;  and  then  only  put  up  his  rod  to  keep 
from  outscoring  his  friend  Cooper,  who  continued  to  fish  until  noon, 
and  killed  the  same  number. 

I  have  been  told  that  Major  Bock,  of  the  British  army,  one  day 
killed  th,rty-five  Salmon  and  Grilse  before  dinner,  in  fishing  from 
Cham  of  Rocks  to  Rock  Pool  at  the  Grand  Falls,  a  distance  of  two 
and  a  half  miles,  wading  most  of  the  water.     Messrs.  Nicholson 
Spurr,  Garbut,  Fiske,  and  other  angle,^  of  St.  John,  have  had  splen- 
d.d  fishing  on  the  Nipissiguit,  not  to  mention  Sir  Francis  Head,  Lord 
Howard,  Messrs.  Penant.  Law,  Clerk,   Hagert,   and   others  whose 
names  I  cannot  recall,  as  well  as  the  native  anglers  about  Bathurst. 
Amongst  the  anglers  fiom  the  States,  Mr.  Cadwalader,  of  Philadel- 
ph.a,  once  made  a  splendid  score  of  large  fish,  in  the  latter  part  of 
August.  ^ 

Tins  river  ca-ries  six  rods;  it  is  now  leased  by  Messrs.  Nicholson 
and  Spurr  of  St.  John,  and  Mr.  Sergeant  of  Philadelphia,  each  of 
whom  share  the  fishing  with  a  companion  of  their  own  choosin.. 

During  the  month  of  July  1863,  the  pools  at  Papineau  FalCeven 
miles  above  Bathurst,  were  fished  by  Capt.  Brown  and  Lieut.  Davis 
of  the  Royal  Artillery,  who  killed  ninety-nine  fish,  including  Grilse! 
The  Grand  Falls  station  was  leased  the  same  season,  from  the  8th  to 
^Oth  of  July,  by  a  young  Scotchman,  who  on  his  way  around  in  the 
steamer  from  Quebec  to  Dalhousie,  had  picked  up  an  Englishman  for 
a  fishmg  companion.  They  killed,  during  their  stay,  seventy-six 
Salmon  and  two  Grilse. 

Having  read,  talked,  and  speculated  much  on  the  subject  of  Sal- 
mon-fishing, J  determined,  though  disappointed  in  the  pleasure  I  had 
anticipated  in  having  the  company  of  a  friend  with  whom  I  had 
projected  the  trip,  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Nipissiguit.  By 
request  I  kept  a  diary,  for  the  entortainment  of  some  old  Tronl 
fishm.  fnends.  As  it  may  interest  the  reader,  I  quote  from  it  as 
follows : 


684 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


[ 


My  3d.— Arrived  at  Bathurgt,  and  found  that  the  river  had  been  leased 
for  the  first  time,  Mr.  Ferguson  being  the  lessee;  that  Captain  Brown  and 
Lieutenant  Davis,  British  officers  from  Quebec,  had  taken  the  Papineau 

Falls. 

My  4th.— Rose  early,  to  see  a  ship-launch.  Went  before  breakfast  and 
engaged  the  Grand  Falls  station,  of  Mr.  Ferguson.  At  the  recommenda- 
tion of  Mr.  Baldwin,  at  whose  hotel  I  put  up,  employed  Peter  and  John 
Chamberlain  for  canoemen.  Went  at  11  a.  u.  to  Ferguson,  Rankin  &  Co.'s 
to  lay  in  stores,  and  was  told  by  Mr.  F.  that  the  son  of  an  old  friend  from 
Scotland  had  arrived  late  the  night  before,  on  a  fishing  excursion,  and  as 
he  desired  to  give  him  the  best  fishing  the  river  afforded  at  that  low  stage 
of  water,  I  must  relinquish  the  "Grand  Falls"  to  him  and  a  companion 
he  had  brought  with  him,  for  the  present,  but  could  have  it  in  two  or 
three  weeks.  Necessity  having  no  law,  I  yielded  with  as  good  grace  as  I 
could,  and  being  encouraged  by  Baldwin  in  the  hope  that  there  was  yet 
some  fishing  at  the  lower  stations,  took  the  "  Round  Rocks." 

My  5th.  — Sunday.  Went  to  church,  walked  about  town,  and  on 
"  Packard's  Hill,"  where  I  had  a  fine  view  of  the  harbor,  bay,  and  surround- 
ing country. 

My  6th.— Started  after  breakfast,  with  my  stores,  and  a  tent  which  I 
borrowed  of  Mr.  Packard,  "  in  a  one-horse  shay,"  to  embark  at  the  head 
of  "  Rough  Waters,"  three  and  a  half  miles  distant.  While  my  men 
were  loading  the  canoe,  I  put  together  my  17-foot  rod,  put  on  my  reel, 
looped  on  my  casting-lino,  and  tied  on  a  salmon-fly  for  the  first  time.  Took 
a  few  casts  going  up.  At  one  of  the  pools,  saw  a  swirl  near  my  fly,  which 
I  was  told  was  a  rise  from  a  Salmon.  Of  course  I  did  not  hook  it.  Ar- 
rived at  Round  Rock  at  11  a.  m.  Too  hot  to  fish;  lounged,  explored,  dined, 
tied  a  few  flies,  and  went  to  sleep. 

I  was  awakened  at  6  o'clock,  and  went  with  John  to  the  pool  immediately 
in  front  of  the  camp,  which  he  directed  me  how  to  fish  casting  from  the 
shore.  Gradually  extending  my  cast,  I  got  my  fly  beyond  the  first  boulder, 
and  as  it  swung  around  with  the  current  and  floated  near  the  brink  of 
the  pitch,  there  was  a  bulge  on  the  surface,  and  I  was  fast  to  something 
strong  and  heavy.  The  fish  did  not  appear  at  all  uneasy  at  first,  but 
presently  grew  restive,  and,  sticking  her  nose  against  the  current,  ran  out 
fifteen  yards  or  so  of  my  line ;  then  came  a  bolder  rush,  as  I  turned  the 
point  of  my  rod  down  stream  and  felt  her  stoutly.  Told  Peter  to  have 
the  gafi"  ready.  "  It  will  be  some  time  before  you  want  it,"  said  Peter. 
I  kept  her  in  shore  and  away  from  the  main  current  as  much  as  possible, 


SALMON   RIVERS. 


635 


and  in  the  mean  time  questioned  Jolin  as  to  what  the  fish  would  probably 
do  as  she  dropped  towards  the  lower  end  of  the  pool-"  Will  she  go  over 
the  puch  ?"  ..  Most  likely,"  said  John.  "  Head  foremost,  with  a  rush  ?" 
•  No,  sir.  sideways  or  .tail  foremost."  A  gleam  of  molten  silver,  a  sweep 
of  her  broad  tail,  and  over  she  went  with  a  lazy  wollop.  I  guided  her 
through  the  swift  water  between  the  rocks.  One  more  swirl  and  a  roll 
as  with  a  taut  line  I  pressed  her  in  shore  and  held  her  quiet  in  a  little 
eddy,  when  Peter  waded  in  hip  deep  and  gaffed  her.  Weight  16  lbs.  My 
first  Salmon,  killed  with  rod  and  fly  of  my  own  make. 

I  thought  I  had  been  humbugged  about  the  pluck  and  endurance  of 
Salmon ;  a  Bass  of  the  same  size  would  have  given  more  sport,  I  said- 
"Wait  awhile,  sir,"  replied  John  ;  "the  water  is  warm  to-day,  and  they 
are  loggish."  I  then  fished  the  other  pools,  some  half  dozen,  without  get. 
ting  a  rise.  Supped  on  the  fat  belly  portion  of  my  Salmon  broiled-ate 
rather  too  much  to  sleep  well ;  walked  on  the  rocks,  smoked,  an  I  ,  ent  to 
bed,  musqu.to  net  working  to  a  charm.  Black  flies  have  been  bad  to-day 
Indians  spearing  on  the  river  opposite  their  reserve,  four  or  five  hundred 
yards  above. 

Julif  7th.-Rose  at  4J.  Fished  the  pool  w'  ere  I  hooked  my  fish  yester- 
day,  and  then  the  others,  without  a  rise,  until  I  got  to  middle  pool,  where 
I  hooked  and  killed  a  12-pound  fish.  Neither  of  the  fish  I  have  kilU  ' 
have  run  off  thirty  yards  of  line.  My  rod  is  very  stiff  and  unwieldy  to 
one  accustomed  to  casting  for  Trout  with  an  8-ounce  rod  of  twelve  feet 
If  I  make  another  of  seventeen  feet,  it  shall  be  much  more  pliant  Not  a 
rise  this  afternoon.  Praying  for  rain ;  some  hopes  as  I  am  going  to  bed- 
deep  muttering  thunder. 

Jubj  8th.~There  was  a  splendid  thunderstorm  and  vivid  lightning  last 
night,  but  very  little  rain.  Opened  my  tent-door  and  looked  out  on  the 
r.ver-gorgeous-this  morning  there  is  not  a  cloud  as  large  as  the  hand  of 
the  prophet's  servant.  Day  hot,  bright-no  fishing.  Walked  two  hundr-^d 
yards  above  the  camp,  and  killed  a  good  string  of  Brook  Trout  at  the 
mouth  of  a  little  spring  branch. 

July  9th.-Tried  the  pools  bPfore  breakfast,  all  to  no  purpose.  Returned 
took  a  swim,  and,  with  John  as  my  counsellor,  while  eating  breakfast 
deeded  to  move  up  to  "  Chain  of  Rocks."  Found  the  road  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  and  walked  to  Papineau  Falls,  while  the  men  poled  up 
and  made  the  portage.  I  hero  visited  Captain  Brown  and  Lieutenant 
Davis.  Embarked,  pushed  up  the  river,  and  fished  a  pool  a  mile  above 
Papineau,  where  I  hooked  a  good  fish,  and  after  playing  it  ten  minutes 


68^ 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


the  hook  loBt  its  hold  and  I  lost  my  fish.    I  hooked  another   n  a  few 
minutes ;  he  ran  around  a  sunken  rock,  got  a  dead  pull  on  my  hne  and 
broke  it.  carrying  away  five  or  six  yards  of  it.  with  my  casting-hne.    I 
had  tried  this  reel  line,  which  was  of  hair  and  silk,  before  leavmg  home, 
and  found  it  to  bear  twelve  pounds.    Suppose  it  had  rotted  from  bemg 
exposed  to  the  dew  by  allowing  my  rod  to  stand  out  at  n.ght.  or  from 
beL  wound  up  wet.    From  the  wild  antics  of  the  fish  I  have  just  lost.  I 
concLe  that  Salmon  do  jump.    Repaired  damages  pushed  on  dn.ed  at 
Bittabock.  and  camped  at  6  p.  -.  on  the  point  of  a  h.gh  rocky  bluff  th.rty 
feet  above  the  river,  which  rushes  through  a  narrow  gorge  below.    This 
station  is  called  "  Mid  Landing."  ,  4.  i,^^ 

While  Peter  was  unlading  the  canoe,  went  above  with  John  and  fished 
down  the  gulch.    Hooked  a  wicked  little  fish,  and  after  a  race  of  a  hur- 
dred  yards  down  the  rapid,  killed  it  in  the  small  cove  under  the  cliff  by 
the  camp.    Leaving  John  to  assist  Peter  in  pitching  the  tent.  I  walked 
up  the  gorge  again,  rose  a  fish,  rested  him.  and  then  hooked  h,m;  shouted 
for  John,  who  came  running  with  the  gaff.    Killed  this  in  the  sa^e  cove 
as  I  did  the  other,  but  with  less  resistance.    Weight  12  lbs.    Fished  with 
B.y  light  16-foot  rod  to-day ;  I  believe  it  stout  enough  to  kill  any  Salmon 
in  th3  river-and  then  the  comfort  and  ease  in  casting  with  it.    1  have 
used  no  lubricating  oil  yet.  but  have  occasionally  taken  the  veil  and  some- 
times  donned  my  gauntlets-a  pair  of  old  kid  gloves,  with  linen  cuff^^  to 
fasten  under  the  v,ristbands  of  my  shirt.    I  am  tired  and  hungry,  writing 
by  the  light  and  in  the  smoke  of  my  camp-fire.    I'll  eat  a  piece  of  my 
live'v  little  Salmon,  take  a  smoke  and  go  to  bed. 

My  10th.-Went  up  the  gulch  at  6  ..  M.,  rose  two  Salmon,  hooked  one 
of  10  lbs.,  and  killed  it  in  the  usual  place.  Ate  breakfast.  While  the 
men  were  striking  tent  and  loading  the  canoe,  went  above  agam  and 
hooked  another  fish.  He  gave  splendid  play,  running  the  -Hs  as  if  he 
.ould  not  stop  short  of  Bathurst,  and  making  a  half-dozen  splendid  leaps 
I  could  see  every  move  he  made  when  I  got  dowa  to  the  camp  being  a 
least  thirty  feet  above  him.  Killed  this  fish  lower  down  the  cove  than  wher 
the  other  Lee  were  gaffed.  Weight  13  lbs.  Arrived  a  Cham  of  Roek^ 
at  12  M.  A  bad  camping-ground ;  no  spring  near-only  river  water  to 
drink.    Fished  the  pools  in  the  afternoon ;  had  two  rises  ;  pricked  one^ 

JuU,  llth.-This  morning  tried  the  pools  again-no  signs  of  fish.  While 
at  breakfast  the  card  of  the  occupants  of  Grand  Falls  station,  inviting 
Ito  pay  them  a  visit,  was  handed  to  me.  Made  all  as  secure  as  I  could 
Tn  my  tent,  and  went  up,  two  miles  distant,  passing  a  beautiful  sheet  of 


SALMON  RIVERS. 


687 


B.„„^      Stopped  to  go,  .  drtol  ,,,ar  ik.  h.»l  of  n,  B.,i„,  „„,„  ' 

•  <lo<en  ,  but  M  thi,  wm  not  .ngli,, ,,  ,„„„j  „  ,. 

P«. ,  fou-d  o..  of  th.  .„g,.„  ,„,  ^  .  ,„.,^.„„  j,^  ^^  »«^ 

w.tk  my  now  fHonds.    Th.  E,.gli.hm.n,  .coordiog  ,„  hi,  „™  ,Io„nl  „ 
^d  S.to„n„.h„,  h„  li„od  «™n  Salmon  in  -.IjMnZ »   " 

Derty  h,„  H,ll..    Ho  ...d  noH,;„g  .bo„,  ..f„  .„„«ng"-ta  hi.  b»M 
I  .hon  d  nouhink  ho  ,o„ld  "  ho  in  ..  tho  donth,"  or  L  ho  i^Z,  „n" 

,..» .o„ih,.„pid  :::c.  r.r:,i::::d*:r::r: 

Took  th,.  opportunity  of  deploring  „,  ..„,  of  aport  b.W,  .nd  i2..« 

fk.  .  fcrt  rod  for  .  few  d.y..    Ho  oon.ult.d  with  hi,  companion  when 

.1        t.""""'  '"''  ^'^  '"''■'•'  "^  8"-  -P  «.e  Grand  P^,; 
.tat, on  on  h„  aooonnt    Saw  him  kill  a  «.h ,  ho  ,.y,,  i,^      ,  .  ^ 

man  ho  never  S.hed  for  Salmon  before ,  ho  o.,te  a  £y,  thongh  and  ta 
dl»  h..  fi.h  a,  if  ..nau™  and  to  the  mannor  bom."    Self  men  d:; 

my  tent  at  the  lower  eamp,  twenty  r„d,  bote,  R.  .nd  A.,  and  n«.r  th. 

up  to  U,.  fi^ll,  Fmm  above  we  .onid  «e  Salmon  leaping  again.,  tt. 
fa  1 ;  «.w  a  dead  bear  Jo.,ing  in  ,he  eddy  below.  Tho  eLLen  .uppl 
that  m  e,M„,„g  too  near  one  of  «,.  f.11,  .b„,e  ,h.  main  pitch  it  11^ 
not  .tern  ,he  rapid,  and  wa,  o„Hed  down.  We  found  i,  in  Ztl  X 
.  0  ^p,  the  .am.  afternoon.    R.  c„t  off  i,.  .,.^  ^  ..j,  ^  ^^''^ 

tOKlay.  Th.  httlo  man  pitche,  into  ,ho  Tankee,  terribly.  He  ha.  !.,„. 
«,,«n.,pinni„g  mill,  a.  Mancho..er.  Our  w„  ha.  out  off  hU  .„! Lff 
ootton,  hi,  „i,„  n„  .,^4  „,  .,.  .^^  ^         iir"  in  1'.: 

r::!::^^^::^^;^^^--^^  say,ixrr:rd 


•  A  taoripti,.  »r  ,11.  ...ticn  c„  t.  f„..d  ..  p.^  3...    I  .„„  H  h.,. 


688 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


France  should  open  our  Southern  ports.  He  would  also  have  us  punished 
in  other  ways  for  our  national  sins.  In  short,  he  -"^  "  -^«  ^^^ 
howl.>'  Ho  has  travelled  on  cotton-purchasing  tours  through  the  Southern 
States;  been  out  on  the  Plains;  was  once  British  Consul  at  St  PauU 
Minnesota;  and  knows  General  McClellan-" Flagellat  mund..  as  Tom 
Maeuire  said  to  the  Pope. 

Monday,  July  13th.-The  Manchester  n>an  has  ----^  ^^^^f^^J^; 
„.ent  of  the  pools  amongst  the  three  rods,  and  has  retained  the  best,  at  th. 
low  stage  of  water,  for  himself,  i.  e.,  Rock  Pool  and  Cooper's  Po.nt-th 
same  that  he  fished  on  Saturday.    Rintoul  has  the  Falls  and  Camp  Pools . 
I.  the  Unlucky.    Started,  after  breaUast.  and  killed  one  fish  at  the  Unlucky, 
and  then  went  down  to  Chain  of  Rocks-the  station  below ;  fished  all  the 
pools  there,  not  a  rise.     Stopped  at  the  basin  on  my  return  and  with  my 
Zht  trout  rod  slaughtered  about  four  dozen  Sea  Trout,  and  gave  it  up  m 
disgust.    My  conscience  was  troubled,  although  Peter  said  he  would  salt 
them  down  to  take  home.    In  the  afternoon  killed  another  fish  at  the 
Unlucky.     These  are  all  I  hooked  to-day-weight  9J  and  lUbs. 

July  14th.-I  have  Rock  Pool  and  Cooper's  Point  to-day ;  wind  blowing 
hard  up  stream.    After  breakfast,  hooked  a  good  fish,  casting  from  the 
cunoe  opposite  Cooper's  Point-a  desperate  fellow.    I  got  on  shore,  and  after 
fighting  him  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour  down  the  left  bank,  gaffed  him 
two  hundred  yards  below.    Killed  two  more  at  Rock  Pool  and  k,st  one. 
from  my  line  getting  jammed  on  the  reel.    Rested  the  pools  until  la  e  ,n 
the  afternoon,  and  then  hooked  a  stubborn  jumping  fish,  who  carried  me 
down  to  the  head  of  the  Basin,  when  Peter  gaffed  him  and  found  him 
hooked  on  the  outside  of  the  mouth-weight  of  the  four  fish.  17.  9J.  10. 
m     Just  as  John  predicted,  my  sport  to-day  is  not  relished  by  the  Man- 
chester man.    He  has  rather  abruptly  requested  me  to  move  my  camp  back 
to  Chain  of  Rocks,  which  I  declined  to  do.     He  said  the  time  of  R.  and 
himself  was  limited,  and  that  he  wanted  the  fishing,  as  long  as  they 
stayed,  for  themselves.    I  told  him  the  camping-ground  was  free  to  all  who 
travelled  up  and  down  the  river ;  and  as  I  intended  going  up  to  see  the  Falls 
again,  and  this  was  a  delightful  spot,  and  Chain  of  Rocks  hot  and 
uncomfortable.  I  would  remain  a  few  days  longer ;  but  the  least  intimation 
that  I  should  not  fish  any  more  would  induce  me  to  lay  up  my  rod. 

July  15th.-Visited  the  Falls  and  the  Basin,  gathered  strawberries,  tied 
half  a  dozen  flies  for  Rintoul,  who  was  poorly  provided.  As  the  Man- 
chester man  had  put  a  veto  on  my  fishing.  I  had  some  sport  in  observing 
him     My  conclusion  is.  that  Francis,  his  canoeman.  does  most  of  th* 


SALMON   IlIVERS. 


689 


hooking  and  he  the  killing  (ho  is  no<  good  even  at  that).  Rintoul  t;.it« 
him  ttbout  it.  I  may.  after  this,  in  a  spirit  of  accommodation,  retain  my 
belief  in  his  shooting  "moorfowl  on  the  Derbyshire  HilU,"  but  he  must 
let  me  off  with  the  fish  story,  i.  e.,  "  seven  Salmon  in  one  afternoon  in  the 
Findhorn."  » 

July  16th.-The  pools  have  been  terribly  thrashed,  particularly  by  the 
Manchester  man  and  his  canoeman.     The  fish  warden  oame  up  the  river 
to-day  from  somewhere  below.    The  Indians  have  been  spearing,  and 
some  white  rascals  netting  about  Mid  Landing  and  Chain  of  Rocks;  as 
he  gave  them  two  days'  notice  of  his  coming  he  didn't  catch  them.    He 
and  his  coadjutor  dined  with  me.     He  is  what  Shpeigel  calls  "  a  wordy 
gentleman."  and  has  no  objection  to  something  to  drink.    We  had  a  good 
laugh  after  dinner,  looking  through  the  bushes  on  the  bluff  at  the  Man- 
chester man  and  Francis  fishing  in  partnership  at  Rock  Pool.    He  will 
make  a  good  report  of  his  fishing  when  he  gets  home,  for  he  scores  them 
all  as  his  own.    I  have  entirely  lost  my  belief  now  in  his  story  about 
killing  "  moorfowl  on  the  Derbyshire  Hills."  as  well  as  that  of  the  "  seven 
Salmon  in  the  Findhorn."    As  his  claret  is  out,  or  he  don't  show  it,  I 
begin  to  doubt  also  whether  his  acquaintance  was  so  much  courted  at 
Savannah,  or  the  Mayor  of  Augusta  did  ride  him  about  in  his  carriage,  and 
the  oflScials  and  magnates  of  other  inland  towns  in  Georgia  give  him 
public  receptions  and  balls.    I  have  some  misgivings  too  as  to  another 
story:  that  is.  whether  he  did,  when  he  was  once  out  on  the  plains,  blow 
up  his  India-rubber  overcoat,  and  draw  in  the  edges  of  its  periphery, 
shaping  it  like  a  punch-bowl,  and  so  ferry  across  a  swollen  river  General 
Marcy  and  the  hard  money  he  was  taking  along  to  payoff  an  Indian 
annuity. 

July  17th.-I  bid  farewell  to  this  delightful  camp-will  I  ever  come 
back  again?  I  have  given  Rintoul  what  few  flies  I  have  left,  reserving 
two  or  three  that  I  may  have  use  for  while  going  down :  he  prefers  yellow 
bodies.  Gave  him  "  Barnwell's"  book,  "  Game  Fish  of  the  North." 
Sorry  to  part  with  him.  he  don't  abuse  the  Yankees;  too  much  good 
manners  to  do  it  to  their  faces,  at  any  rate.  Under  his  rough  exterior  and 
curtness  of  manner  there  is  much  intelligence  and  quiet  humor,  as  well  as 
refinement  of  feeling.  He  has  visited  our  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
don't  think  much  of  Hooker.  It  is  enjoyable  to  see  him  skip  over  the 
rocks  when  fishing— sure  of  foot  as  an  antelope.  He  and  A  killed  45 
ffih  in  four  days  when  they  first  got  here :  now,  from  not  resting  the  pool- 


640 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


and  the  low  water,  their  sport  is  rather  elim-they  have  had  some  blank 

days.  .   .  ,    , 

I  have  only  killed  twelve  Salmon  all  told.  John  says  .t  .s  not  very  bad 
considering  the  low  water  and  my  limited  opportunities.  However.  I 
have  had  considerable  practice  at  casting,  found  the  lay  of  the  Salmon  m 
the  pools,  and  seen  a  most  beautiful  river.  So  I  am  recompensed  for  the 
trip.Tven  if  I  should  not  come  up  here  again.  Had  no  sport  coming 
down,  until  I  arrived  at  Round  Rock,  where  I  killed  two  Or.lse  ;  such 
jumping  I  never  saw-down  the  pitch,  and  then  back  again  into  the 
pool.  I  had  no  conception  of  their  pluck  and  activity:  playing  one  « 
like  breaking  a  three-year  old  colt. 

J«?V  18th.-Two  more  Grilse  before  breakfast,  but  not  a  rise  from  a 
Salmon.  Arrived  at  Bathurst  at  12  u.,  and  found  that  Mr.  Nicholson.  » 
Salmon-fisher,  and  his  wife,  were  at  Mr.  Packard's.  Of  course  1  moved  my 
quarters  there.  N.  is  a  warm-hearted  Irishman,  has  good  sherry,  and  ties 
a  beautiful  fly.  Sat  down  to  tea  with  Mrs.  N.  at  the  head  of  the  table^ 
What  a  contrast  to  my  rough  life  on  the  river-went  to  bed-"  blessed  be 
be  who  invented  sleep." 

After  remaining  at  Bathurst  three  or  four  days,  spending  my  time 
pleasantly  with  my  new-made  friends,  and  my  host,  who  though  he 
has  been  residing  here  forty  years,  is  an  intensely  loyal  Yankee,  I 
resume  my  Journal. 

July  22d  -We  have  had  heavy  rains  during  the  last  three  days  and  the 
river  is  rising  rapidly.   We  have  engaged  the  Grand  Falls  (Nicholson  and 
I)  of  Mr.  Ferguson ;  to  occupy  it  as  soon,  and  keep  it  as  long  as  we  wish ; 
but  have  concluded  to  try  the  Rough  Waters  for  four  or  five  days,  and 
then  when  Mr.  Garbut,  a  friend  of  N.'s,  arrives,  to  push  on  up  the  nver 
Rintoul  and  Adshead  have  returned  from  Grand  Falls,  and  have  taken 
about  eighty  fish  and  a  few  Grilse.    Brown  and  Davis  still  at  Papmeau. 
We  starled  at  12  -.  for  Rough  Waters,  just  above  the  head  of  tide, 
three  miles  distant.     I  have  John  and  Peter  Chamberlain  for  canoemen. 
N  has  Bruno  Chamberlain  and  David  Buchet.    Roma  Veno.  a  stout  lad. 
is'camp-keeper ;  he  is  also  a  good  canoeman.     A  mile  above  Bathurst  saw 
a  Salmon  strike  a  stake-net  and  entangle  himself;  relieved  the  fish,  and 
then  hooked  him  through  the  snout  and  dropped  him  overboard  to  try  his 
oluck-  he  wa«  too  much  exhausted  to  give  any  play.    Arrived  at  our 


SALMON    KlVfifta 


MJ 


mug,  w.nt  ,.«.l„„|t,  ,„a  e.d.  of  „,  li|l,j  „„  o,i|,„ 
/.',  23d.-B..„.if„,  d»,.    Mr..  N.,  ,i,h  he,  .w„  children  .„„  ..„.„,. 

buf  lftr!;r""-f-  "'  '"""  """"'"^  '^^  "'»  ""'«"  «  Salmon. 
do„  t  know  h„„.  m.„j,  o,il„.    I  h..,  .„.„  orii..,  ,„g„.  ,  ,^     „"„' 

««  .h.  „pM.,  .h,„  f„.gh.  bin.  r„„  ,h.  „.„o.  „d  fr„„  ^i  ^^k 
do™  .0  ,h.  p..eh  of  .ho  G^nd  Chain,  ,h,r.  I  ki,,.,,  hi„,,  .„  ~lnd  Z' 
.  -.a  «  «.h  of  on,,  9}  ,b..    I  had  h,K,ked  bin.  in  th,  iip  „„,.ido     g^ 

and  telling  stones ;  turned  in.  ^  ^ 

S„nd.j,.  «»  26,h.-CI„„dj,  ,bro...ning  ,.in.    Won.  with  „v  canoe- 

men  ,0  .p,„d  ,ho  da,  ,i.h  .heir  f.„i,i.,  ..  ,hoi,  „.„.  aetUeJ'  7Z 

or  «,  fmn,  .1,,  mer.    Wa.  oangb.  in  .  rto,er.    H.,^     ,|e„.n.  ,i,i.  "1 

re  gion,  &c.    Ihey  are  good  Roman  Catholics,  moral,  inuocont  And  J 

m.t..     It  rained  nearl,  the  whole  da,.    On  m,  retur:rs     id  .Vo  r" 

amp-keeper  that  a  great  man.  Grilse,  but  no  Salmon,  had  been  taken  bv 

the  native  anglers  in  the  pools  near  by.  ^ 

brf  l!f  ?!'-\;'''  '"'''  "'  ""''  "^  *-^''  "'^  '  ^  '^«-  -•^  *-  Grilse.    After 
breakfast  fed  some  light  flies  for  high   water      At  noon    IV"  ^, 

«  with  his  friend  Garbut.     Moved^ur  camp  to  leTad  ^ft  1" 

Waters,  a  m.le  or  so  above,  where  we  were  visited  by  a  party  of  ladi!.      H 

gentlemen  from  Bathurst :  they  had  been  on  a  picni^  :  iTfrem^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

to  Round  Rook,  and  killed  two  more  Grilse.    During  our  stay    t  Rough 

Wat.„  we      .e  killed  but  few  Salmon,  but  had  great  fun  with  th  . 


642 


AMERICAN    ANQLBR'8    BOOK. 


Grilse.    Two  year.  ag.>  NicholBon  was  here  in  August  during  a  rise  iu  the 
rivBr  and  killed  fifty-six  Salmon  in  eight  days. 

;:;Xh-S..r.L  ^.  .ft.-  .»-.».  ^'»«*  •'  Mia  I.»d,ng    .n 
J,^  ..  0,«.d  F.U,  ..  7  P. ...  ..ndlng  «ur  *r..  »  f»  »  0.,.,n  .1 

Book,  in  crM.    Found  the  w.l.r  too  W.fh  for  good  «.h,ng. 
J«i,  29th.-Killed  two  «.h,  ooigbt  Wl  ""J  12  »"■ 
W«30th.-W.torr..ing.i«v.ly.    I  havo  one  B.l.,  12  If- 
/„,^31...-R.i»ed  .gain  ia..  nigl,t.    N.  ..o.d-n  ,n  o.no.  for  M,.. 
N    ,ho  oam.  ..  far  a-  P.pi»e.«  in  .  carriag..    The,  «-..«!  at  9  P..., 
in  a  noiiring  rain.    I  have  taken  one  «.!.  tcniay.  9J  te-    ,     ^      „      ^, 
ICu.  -Ri..r  too  high  ..►d.,  for  Salmon.8.hing.  In  the  .ftcr„«,n 
J„r::l  1.  N.  to  th.  B..in,  «hcre  ....  killed  .5  ^U.  of  Trout  .n  .. 

■■"sLto  Au^.'l  2a.-Tl..  river  i.  more  than  t«o  f™t  higher  than  it 
,.?:,'.  Zhere  t.o«eek.  ago.   B.,n  and  Da.i.,  *  ar,  ..n.p.g 
It  Pap    eau.  dined  with  ».  UmI.,.     1  g«e  the.  Trent  «  «.  enok  th.» 
L'stat.;,  .-.  ,.  roiled  in  paper  and  roa-ted  -^"  ">'  -^"^  ^2 
and  .orved  up  on  hot  «.t  .tone..    They  comphment«l  the  cook.    Th». 
l:.  youn'g  fello..  had  take.  .  .hort  walk  of  *■;;-  ;'^;;;' 
hreakfa..  to  .oe  th.  Grand  Fall.,  without  a  gutde  or  a  tendant .  at  6  , J^ 
..nt  then,  down  to  th.  lower  end  of  th.  Ba.in  in  one  of  "'««■-- J""'? 
„„.t  have  h»i  .  .we.t  walk,  a.  they  were  no  douht  helated,  and  the 
Id-if  i.  n,ay  he  ealM  a  ,oad-n,uddy  and  full  of  root.   . tun,,.,  and 
^,     N  andO.  have  co»clud«i  to  .tar.  for  th.  B»»8''/»"'",  7r; 
Twlr. ing,  hoping  to  «nd  that  th.  heavy  rain,  which  have  .poU«i  th. 
Zingher.  hav,  high,  in  a  fr»h  run  of  «.h.  and  that,  a.  u.ual,  the, 

r„ L  I  .ta,  here  untii  the  water  fall.,  and  have  ..nt  Mr.  Pack.rd  m 
0  "derfo"ten  da,.'  provi.ion.  t.  be  «.nt  up  on  p«,khor».  I  have  kept  no 
tZlZ  of  N  •.  and  G.-.  eateh  while  h.r..  Brown  and  Bav.  have 
killed  99,  including  Otil.e,  at  Papinoau. 

U.-»~  3d.-L.ft  N.  and  G.  p«=king  up  to  .frt,  and  wen   down  to  th. 
head  of  the  Ba.in,  .uppo.ing  it  the  only  po..ihle  chanc.  «h»  ""  "' 
■Z  high.    Hooked  a  r.ceh„r«  of  a  fellow  and  killed  h,m  .  hu.drrf  yard. 
Wow.    I  then  thought  the.  might  b.  »m.  fi.bing  at  the  Dnlucky,  and 
^Id  our  canoe  up  .trean,.  when  .  met  N.  and  wife  and  Garut^    M™^ 
N.  h»i  killed  a  Gril.e  in  R«  ■•.  Pool  and  O.  a  Salmon.    I  k,ll.    two  .  h  , 
Duluck,  and  on.  at  Rock  P.K,1.    Weighs,  of  a.h  to^ay,  »•  «»■  W'  "■ 
1  «,„.wh.t  lonely  thi,  evening.    A.  I  writ.  «>i.  b,  a  b,rch-bark  hght. 


SALMON    RIVKR8. 


648 


I  m.s-  the  cheery  voice  an.l  kind  manner  of  the  lady  who  hn,  graced  our 
rough  shanty,  and  min.  Nich.'n  jokes  and  his  snatches  of  Irish  song      If  I 

gen  till- hearted  Irish.  * 

^u^«,/  4th  -Killed  1  Salm..„  „„d  5  Grilse  in  an  hour,  before  breakfast. 
at  Fal  s  PcK,l  and  afte-wanls  one  fish  at  Rock  and  one  at  Unlucky. 
Weights,  8,  15 J,  11.  ^ 

August  5th.-Two  Salmon  at  Rock  P(k,1  befo.^  breakfast,  and  two  at 
.n  ^n  o  'T'     '"  '""  "'■*''""'^"  '  ^"'^«  "'  ^""^  ^-'-     ^Veights  of  flsh. 

^«</«*^  6th.-Wind  north-east-showery.    Tried  the  Falls  before  breal- 
fast   only  1  Grilse;   after   breakfast  killed   one  fish  at. Camp  and  two 
at  Rock  Pool.    Lost  two  handsome  fish  «t  the  Unlucky,  one  of  them 
from  my  not  being  able  to  get  around  the  rockn.  (he  canoe  having  been 
eft  above.     In  the  afternoon.  3  Grilse  at  Cnmp  Pool.     Weight  of  fish  8 
13J.  15.    The  river  is  falling  rapidly-no  use  to  fish  after  10  a.  m..  or  before 
6  in  the  afternoon.     Mr.  Brand,  who  camo  to  Bathur'st  to  l,K,k  after  an 
interest  in  a  copper-mine,  and  his  son.  arrived  here  this  afternoon.     Mr 
B.  says  he  wishes  to  take  homo  a  half-barrel  of  salted  Salmon.    Nicholson 
sent  him  up-I  suppose  thinking  this  station  too  go<Kl  to  be  occupied  by 
one  rod.  *' 

Augmt  7th.-Fi8hed  early-one  in  Unlucky  and  throe  in  Rock  P  ,ol . 
8,  12},  10,  16,  and  one  Grilse.  Brand  has  had  fine  sport  at  Falls'  he  has 
been  there  all  day-says  he  likes  to  see  them  jump-gets  Jim  Levin,  his 
canoeman.  to  hook  them  for  him;  he  holds  them  hard,  and  loses  his 
casting-lines. 

August  8th.-0ne  Salmon  at  Falls  and  three  at  Camp  ;  weights  9  11} 
14,  10.  and  three  Grilse.  Brand,  his  son,  and  Jim.  between  them  'have 
taken  two  Salmon  and  a  Grilse  at  Rock  Pool.  Last  night  we  saw  two 
canoes,  with  Indians  from  Bathurst.  at  Camp  Pool,  preparing  to  spear.  We 
drove  them  off;  they  were  impudent  and  stopped  at  the  Rock.  Brand  had 
a  breech-loading  rifle,  and  dropped  a  shot  near  them  ;  they  shouted  back 
when  he  gave  them  another,  and  then  one  between  the  canoes ;  they  wen! 
off  in  a  hurry,  one  fellow  did  not  think  to  douce  his  flambeau 

Sunday,  August  9th.-Brand  is  a  practical  man.  gunsmith,  from  Nor- 
w.ch.  Connecticut;  has  followed  mackerel  and  cod-fishing  for  the  New 
York  market ;  he  saw  no  harm  in  fishing  Sunday,  and  did  so.  at  Falls 
Pool ;  thrashed  it  all  d«y.  I  told  him  as  he  would  not  rest  the  pools  to-day 
he  must  take  the  "Falls"  again  to-morrow.     The  files  have  bitten  him 


im 


644 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


terribly  ;  he  has  no  muequitcnet ;  he  i«  a  man  of  full  habit,  and  drinka 
the  be«t  brandy,  ..hich  doe«  not  help  the  matter  ;  Bay«  he  can  t  Btand  it. 
as  he  is  a  good  deal  "out  of  sojti." 

There  is  agreat  profusion  of  whortleberries  here.    One  can  str^.  them 
off  by  the  handful ;  Uttle  sprigs  shooting  out  of  the  crevices  of  the  rocks 
„re  full  of  them.    They  are  so  plenty  in  this  part  of  the  country,  so  says 
John,  that  they  are  sometimes  sold  at  Bathurst  at  ten  cents  a  gallon 
Of  raspberries  there  is  a  superabundance.    I  never  saw  them  finer,  or  of 
such  delicious  flavor.    These  wild  fruits  are  good  to  counteract  the  stnn- 
gent  effects  of  fresh  Salmon.    Bill  of  fare-  before  breakfast,  raspberries; 
breakfast,  kippered  Salmon,  tea  (brown  sugar),  hard  crackers,  raspber- 
ries-  lunch,  whortleberries,  raspberries,  dinner,  boiled  Salmon,  Gnlse 
baked  under  the  ashes,  pork  and  beans,  raspberries;  supper.  Salmon 
steaks  tea,  bread  and  butter,  raspberries. 

Auaust  10th.  -Held  Brand  to  his  promise  to  fish  Falls  Pool  agam  today. 
He.  his  son.  and  Jjm.  may  thrash  it  to  their  hearts'  c-^-*-/^/^^*; 
The  river  has  fallen  a  great  deal  since  Saturday,  and  the  fish  all 
disappear  by  noon,  and  seek  the  cool  w.ter  in  the  depths  of  the 
"BasL"  We  can  see  the  bottom  of  rearly  all  of  the  pools  now  and 
count  the  fish  in  them.     Killed  to-day  four  fish.  8.  11},  16,  12. 

^„„„,nith.-Brand  could  not  stand  the  musquitoes  any  longer:  he 
has  mtoff  to  Bathurst.  I  wish  him  a  speedy  voyage  and  a  pleasant  one. 
I  hope  the  sun  may  not  melt  him,  for  it  is  almost  as  hot  here  at  noonday 
as  I  have  felt  it  in  New  Orleans,  though  at  night  it  takes  two  good 
blankets  to  keep  a  man  warm.  Killed  four  Salmon  and  a  Grilse  before 
9  A.  M.,  weights  13.  10,  9},  11.    Tied  flies  nearly  all  day,  dark     Nichol- 

sons",  hooks  No.  9.  n  a\  :ii~i 

A.aust  12th.-Up  at  daybreak ;  lit  my  pipe  at  the  camp-fire,  and  killed 
a  bra^o  of  good  fish  at  the  Rock  before  I  knocked  the  ashes  out ;  then  one 
at  Cooper's  Point.  12.  10*.  15.     As  usual.  I  found  the  fish  J-P-g  ^'^^ 
above  the  wator  this  morning-perhaps  to  inhale  the  cool  air ;  there  are 
none  to  be  seen  after  10  a.  m.  ;  all  gone  down  to  spend  the  remainder  of 
the  day  and  the  night  in  the  Basin.   There  is  no  use  fishing  after  8  o  clock. 
I  have  six  Salmon  lying  in  the  spring,  or  rather  in  the  little  pool  in  the 
branch   close  to  our  camp-a  pretty  sighi-their  broad  silvery  sides 
gleaming  through  the  water.     I  am  keeping  them  to  treat  the  Governor 
'who  is  expected  to-day ;  he  comes  up  the  Tobique  making  the  portage 
of  four  miles  into  the  lake  at  the  head  of  this  river.     He  intends  to 
Ht.p  here  to  fish  for  Salmon,  which,  of  course,  are  not  found  above  the 


SALMON    RIVERS. 


645 


Fans.    Tied  a  half  dozen  s«„all  darV  flies  to-day.  mostly  of  brown  hen's 
J«,«,n3th.-Up  before  the  sun  ;  went  down,  killed  one  fish  of  12  lbs.. 

could  "or  •"■       .  '''  ''"^  ""'^"°  '^^""-^^  ^'-^  •>-'— d  then 
-aid  not  st.r  another  fin.  though  I  could  see  n.an,  fish  in  the  pools.    I 

^  afra.d  rny  sport  is  done.     Fishing  the  same  pools  every  day  1  gr<.wn 

Zl         r         '^"''''"'  "'"''•  ^"  ^'^•^°*y  P~*^  '^  P-t»-q!e 
appearance.  w.th  Us  rude  table,  benches,  and  kitchen  utensils.     Fifteen 

San.onsp,,and  strotched  open  with  cedar  slats,  and  K„„„i„g  .^ound 

n.a„s.on  ;  and  then  the  cool  spring  and  delicious  wild  fruit.     As  for  son,- 

or  American  Cuckoo,  my  old  friend  the  Robin,  and  a  little  fellow  who  fre- 
quently  serenades  me,  as  he  sits  on  a  dead  limb  of  the  blighted  old  ash.  by  the 
spnng.  wUhh.s..ChitchieI  chitchiel  chitchie-kewitchie!"  in  a  sort  of  n  ter! 

up  some  of  the  crumbs  that  Peter  shakes  f^m  my  ragged  tablecloth  ;  and 
3eUn«thersweets.nger.  who  says  '.Pea-pea-peabody!  peabody!  peab^dy!" 
The  early  mornang  air  is  vocal  with  their  songs.  In  the  paths  I  frequently 
-et  young  Rabbits,  who  cock  their  long  ears  backward  and  stare  whh 
he.r  b.g  vacant  eyes.  Amongst  the  stones  piled  on  the  uphill  side  of  our 
«hed  a  half-dozen  str.ped  Ground  Squirrels  have  their  homes  and  little 
famihes  and  have  grown  quite  sociable,  no  doubt  attracted  by  rarities 
more  substantial  than  berries  and  green  hazlenuts 

About  that  little  bird  the  "  Peabody"  there  is  a  pretty  story  told  by  the 
haLHans,  as  to  how  it  got  its  name.     They  say  it  was  thus:    There  was 
once  a  great  drouth,  and  from  this  and  other  causes,  a  great  dearth  of 
food  m  the  Province,  and  those  who  had  to  sell  demanded  such  prices 
that  the  poorer  part  of  the  population  were  almost  reduced  to  starvation 
An  old  trader  and  merchant  of  Chatham,  on  the  Mirimichi,  however  by 
some   good   luck  or  forecast,  had  laid  up  a  cargo  or  two  of  flour,  and. 
instead  of  taking  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  the  people,  sold  it  at 
ordmary  prices,  and  sent  it  through  the  country  to  the  most  destitute 
Then  this  little  bird,  the  words  of  whose  song  no  one  understood  before 
H.ng  the  old  man's  praises  around  his  house,  and  through  the  clearings 
and  forests,  and  along  the  bauks  of  the  rivers,  ever  repeating  his  name^ 
"  Peabody !"  "  Peabody  !"  "  Peabody  I" 


646 


AMEPICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


Avgi>»(  14th.-Struck  tent,  loaded  canoe,  and  started  at  8  A. ».  Dined 
,U  Mid  Landing,  killing  two  Grilse  on  my  way  down,  then  three  more 
while  Peter  was  getting  dinner  ready,  and  another  below  Bittabock.  In- 
tended  to  stop  at  Papineau  Falls  all  night  for  the  evening  and  morning 
fishing ;  but,  finding  the  camp  occupied  by  Messrs.  Rankin  and  McManus. 
determined  to  push  on  to  Round  Rock,  where  I  arrived  just  in  time  u> 
pitch  tent  and  escape  a  magnificent  thunderstorm,  the  rain  beating  out  out 
fire  and  the  men  occupying  part  of  my  tent. 

Augvst  15th.-Killed  a  Grilse  before  breakfast,  and  after,  while  the  boys 
were  lading  the  canoe,  gave  the  Camp  Pool  here  one  more  going  over.    I 
had  fished  over  the  nearer  portion  of  the  cast  and  got  out  at  least  twenty- 
five  yards  of  line,  covering  the  outer  rip,  when  there  was  a  gleam  of  silver, 
and  a  heavy  roll,  but  my  fly  came  back  untouched.    I  rasted  the  fish  five 
minutes  apd  again  covered  it,  when  she  took  the  fly  with  a  downward 
plunge,  and  I  felt  as  if  I  was  fast  to  a  drayhorse.    Then  commenced  a 
series  of  vaults  and  rushes.    There  were  several  cedar  logs  which  some 
Bathurst  folks  were  running  down ;  these  had  been  stopped  by  the  rocks, 
and  I  was  very  fearful  the  fish  would  foul  my  casting-line  in  one  of  them. 
So  I  told  the  boys  to  have  the  canoe  up;  before  they  got  back  to  me, 
though,  I  had  coaxed  my  lady  in  shore,  steering  her  clear  of  the  timber 
and  in  a  short  time  Peter  gaflfed  her  in  the  same  little  eddy  where  he  had 
secured  my  first  fish,  six  weeks  before.     A  singular  coincidence  is,  that 
both  were  fresh-run  females ;  both  of  the  same  weight-16  lbs. ;  and  both 
hooked  in  the  same  pool  and  killed  in  the  same  eddy. 

Although  my  sport  has  been  only  moderate,  I  close  my  journal,  pleased 
with  my  trip  and  my  honest  unsophisticated  voyageurs,  who  have  done  all 
in  their  power  to  give  me  sport  and  promote  my  comfort.  John  is  an 
intelligent,  communicative  fellow,  and  tells  many  anecdotes  of  most  of  the 
fishers  who  have  visited  the  river.  Being  a  good  observer,  he  has  learned 
much  by  seeing  them  fish,  and  now  perhaps  excels  any  of  them.  Peter, 
who  stands  six  feet  in  his  stockings  when  he  straightens  himself  up,  is  the 
personification  of  amiability,  is  a  good  cook  and  a  splendid  canoeman. 
They  both  say  the  average  size  of  my  fish  has  been  much  larger  than 

usual  for  this  river. 

On  summing  up  I  find  my  aggregate  to  be  as  follows  :-54  Salmon  and 
45  Grilse.  Total  weight  of  Salmon,  6411  lbs. ;  average,  llj  lbs.  Taking 
the  Grilse  at  an  average  of  3  lbs.,  the  whole  weight  of  Salmon  and  Grilse 
776J  lbs.    Largest  fish  17  ;  6  of  16.  and  3  of  15. 


SALMON    FIVERS. 


647 


I  again  visited  the  Nipissiguit  last  summer  (1864),  with  J   D 
Sergeant,  Esq,  of  Philadelphia.     On  arriving  at  Bathurst,  we  found 
the  nver  very  low;  the  snow  having  melted  gradually,  and  no  heavy 
rams,  wh.ch  are  usual  in  May,  having  fallen,  there  had  been  no 
Bpnng  freshet  to  induce  the  Salmon  to  go  up,  or  to  bring  the  timber 
down;  while  the  river  was  full  of  logs  which  had  lodged  against  the 
rocks  at  many  of  the  pools,  or  grounded  on  the  shallows.     Under 
these  discouraging  circumstances,  we  spent  over  three  weeks  at  Bath- 
urst  and  m  our  camp  at  Rough  Waters,  waiting  for  a  rise.     To  while 
away  the  t.me,  we  went  lobstering,  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor,  and 
•  v.8,ted  the  fisheries  and  grindstone  quarries  along  the  bay  shore,  and 
photographed   many  of  the  beautiful  views  along  the  river     The 
stations  at  Papineau  and  Grand  Falls  were  occupied  for  a  few  weeks 
in  the  meantime  by  parties  who  met  with  little  or  no  success 

On  the  13th  of  July,  hearing  that  the  occupants  of  the  Grand 
Falls  were  about  leaving,  we  started  for  that  station,  hoping  that  some 
fish  had  found  their  way  up,  notwithstanding  the  low  water  and  the 
^mber  in  the  river.  We  found  no  sport  going  up,  or  at  the  Grand 
Falls  until  the  16th,  when  the  first  run  of  Grisle  appeared,  and 
greatly  outnumbered  the  Salmon. 

Our  catch  of  Salmon,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  score  on  the  next 
page  was  small ;  the  Grilse  being  in  the  same  pools  frequently  get- 

"eVv    t^Tf   /        ?™"'^"  ''''''-''''  ^  disposition  to  tL 
he  fly    this  fact  was  observed  by  our  canoemen,  occupying  a  more 
^evated  position  than  the  angler.     We  had  some  exelnt  sport! 
taking  these  active  young  fish,  notwithstanding;  for  in  some  of  the 
pools  where  the  bank  sloped  so  as  to  enable  us  to  run  them  down 
^eam,  we  took  them  on  our  eight-ounce  trout-rods.     Our  first  el 
amongst  them  with  our  light  tackle  was  one  day  when  returning  from 
to  mouth  of  Gilmore's  Brook,  whore  we  had  been    Trout-fishing 
Stopping  at  the  «  Grilse  Pool,"  on  the  side  opposite  to  that  littfe 

stream  we  placed  both  canoes  alongside,  and  I  being  in  the  lower 
...a  e  t  e  ,      ,,,^  ^^  ^^^,^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^  .  ^^  ^^^  J. 

ought  him  down  the  pebbly  bank,  as  he  made  desperate  runs  and 
leaps,     (xetting  him  well  in  hand,  and  somewhat  subdued,  my  meu 


1  i 


II 


I  it 


648 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


who  had  filled  our  Grilse  landing-net  with  the  Trout  we  had  caught, 
and  left  it  in  the  boat,  made  frequent  attempts  to  gaff  uiy  silvery 
opponent,  which  only  made  it  wilder  and  prolonged  the  contest 
Hefore  I  killed  my  fish  I  looked  behind,  and  found  S.  also  running 
one  down  ;  his  fish  and  his  men  performing  the  same  amusing  antics. 
As  soon  as  I  secured  mine,  I  went  back,  hooked  another  and  in  turn 
followed  S  ,  who,  after  killing  his,  returned  to  the  pool,  hooked  still 
another,  and  again  followed  me.  The  killing  of  the  four  occupied 
about  half  an  hour. 

Notwithstanding  our  meager  fishing,  we  spent  our  time  pleasantly. 
My  companion,  an  amateur  photographer,  took  some  splendid  views 
at  Rough  Waters,  Papineau,  and  Grand  Falls,  bringing  home  about 
twenty-five  negatives.  His  view  of  Camp  Pool,  which  appeared  in 
the  Photographic  Magazine  of  November,  is  one  of  surpassing  beauty. 


Score. 

July  16.  3  Salmon,    9,  9J,  9. 

"  17.  Sunday. 

"  18.  3  Salmon,     11,  10,  10. 

"  19. 

"  20. 

"  21.  4     " 

«'  22.  6      " 

"  23.  4     " 

"  24.  Sunday. 

"  25.  4  Salmon,    9,  9J,  10,  7. 

"  26.  3      "  9, 8,  10. 

"  27.  5      '•  10,  11,  9,  8},  m 

"  28. 

"  29.  2      " 


10,  11,  9},  12. 

8,  10,  10,  9,  8J,  11. 

12,  12,  4i,  12. 


4  Grilse. 


1 
3 
1 

11 

II 

2 


<< 
(< . 


6 
9 
4 
1 
9,  8.  (At  Mid  Landing)  6 


SEA-TROUT  FISHING. 

Before  offering  any  additional  remarks  on  Sea-Trout  fishin-  it 
would  be  well  to  say  something  of  the  fish  itself,  and  caution  'the 
reading  angler  who  takes  an  interest  in  the  natural  history  of  hie 
prey  against  the  old  error  of  Mr.  Perley  and  "Frank  Forester" 
which  the  latter  reiterates  in  his  supplement  to  the  last  edition  of 
his  "Fish  and  Fishing."  The  original  error  in  the  volume  of  his 
book  I  have  already  commented  on  in  my  observations  on  the  specific 
character  and  habits  of  the  fish.  The  author  in  question  says,  on 
page  377  of  his  last  edition  :— 

"When  speaking  of  this  beautiful  fish-which.  by  the  aid  of  mv  friend 
Mr  Perley.  of  the  city  of  St.  John.  I  have  been  enabled  fullv  to  e'stnblish 
for  the  first  time  as  an  unquestionable  inhabitant  of  our  waters-!  men- 
tioned, on  page  277.  the  singular  fact  that  this  fish,  althcugh  it  enters 
every  nver  and  estuary  on  the  eastern  side  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  runs  un  so 
tur  a.  the  meeting  of  the  tidal  and  fresh  waters,  does  not  run  up  into' the 
shoals,  or  spawn  in  the  gravel  beds  of  any  of  those  rivers. 

(649) 


650 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


••  While  commenting  on  that  fact,  I  stated  that  it  would  appear  to  indi 
cato  a  variation  iu  this  species  from  one  of  the  normal  habits  of  the  raco- 
that  of  running  up  into  aerated  waters,  in  order  to  spawn. 

"  This,  it  now  seems,  was  founded  on  an  erroneous  interpretation  of  the 
fact,  which  is,  that  the  Salmon  Trout,  which  does  run  up  into  fresh  shal- 
low streams,  in  order  to  spawn,  on  the  Eastern  Continent,  does  not  breed 
with  us  at  all  on  the  Atlantic  coasts  of  America,  though  it  will  probi^bly 
be  found  to  do  so  in  the  waters  which  fall  into  the  Pacific,  as  the  Columbia, 
Sacramento,  and  other  rivers  in  which,  as  I  learn  from  returned  Califop. 

nians,  it  literally  swarms. 

"  The  Salmon  Trout  in  our  north-eastern  waters  is  merely  a  transient  and 
very  rapacious  visitor,  pursuing  the  vast  shoals  of  smelts  which  run  into 
ali  those  rivers,  and  hunting  them  with  unwearied  activity  and  ferocity, 
until  they  escape  above  his  reach  into  the  swift  and  shallow  fresh  waters, 
into  which  he  does  not  seem  to  pursue  them.  After  their  escape,  he 
returns  at  once  into  the  outer  bays  and  larger  estuaries,  where  he  is  taken, 
as  I  have  before  described,  with  the  scariet  ibis  fly." 

From  the  above  it  will  be  observed  that  he  has  still  insisted  on  its 
being  identical  with  Sidmo  truttn  of  Europe ;  that  it  never  enters  the 
rivers  of  Canada  or  New  Brunswick  above  tide,  and  never  spawns 
in  those  waters  at  all.     What  reasonable  basis  either  Mr.  Perley 
or    "Frank     Forester"    could    have    formed     for    so    strange    an 
hypothesis  it  is  hard  to  imagine.     Any  person  accustomed  to  note 
specific  differences,  or  at  all  acquainted  with  the  habits  of  this  fish, 
should  ha'^e  known  better.     In  opposition  to  this  hypothesis,  for  it  is 
nothing  more,  I  would  say,  that  since  putting  the  first  edition  of  this 
book  in  type,  I  have  again  visited  the  Nipissiguit,  and  found  these 
fish  in  large  schools  at  the  mouths  of  little  brooks  far  above  tide. 
At  the  entrance  of  Gilmore's  Brook  into  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water 
known  as  the  "  Basin,"  a  mile  and  a  half  below  the  Grand  Falls, 
they  fairly  swarmed;  so  closely  were  they  packed  that  a  thousand  or 
more  hy  in  a  space  that  I  could  have  covered  with  my  blanket,  and 
without  a  doubt  remained  there  until  the  spawning  season.     In  mere 
wantonness  of  sport,  my  friend  who  was  with  me,  cast  his  flies  over 
them  for  half  an  hour,  and  then  gave  it  up  from  pure  satiety,  and 
lay  down  and  went  to  sleep.     I  then  took  his  stand,  and  in  another 


SEA-TROUT   PISHINO. 


661 


half  hour  we  had  bagged  as  many  Sea-Trout,  from  nine  to  fifteen 
inches  long,  as  a  man  could  carry.     On  counting  them  when  we 
returned  to  camp,  we  found  we  had  killed  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine. 
We  might  as  easily  have  taken  a  thousand,  if  we  had  kept  on  fishing. 
I  would  recommend  the.excursionist  visiting  the  Province  of  New 
Brunswick,  to  embark  some  fine  May  morning  on  one  of  the  staunch 
and  commodious  steamers  which  leave  Boston  every  Tuesday  and 
Thursday  for  St.  John ;  the  approach  to  which  city  is  pictured  in  the  ' 
little  wood  engraving  at  the  head  of  this  chapter.     Ho  will  most 
likely  arrive  early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day.     If  the  tide  is 
out  he  will  see  the  wharf  towering  above  the  tops  of  the  steamer's 
smoke-stacks,  for  the  tide  here  rises  and  falls  about  thirty-five  feet. 
When  he  walks  up  the  long  wooden  staging  that  leads  to  the  top  of 
the  wharf,  he  may  have  to  answer  a  few  civil  questions  propounded 
by  a  custom-house  officer,  and  then  he  will  go  to  an  excellent,  though 
not  showy  hotel,  the  Waverley.    If  he  should  then  call  on  my  friend, 
J.  W.  Nicholson,  a  merchant,-I  need  not  say  a  thorough  angler- 
of  St.  John,  I  bespeak  for  him  a  kind  reception  and  complete  posting 
as  to  Sea-Trout  fishing  in  Nova  Scotia  and   on   Prince   Edward's 
Island,  whither  steamers  ply  once  or  twice  a  week.     The  day  of 
Bailing  can  be  ascertained  beforehand  from  the  St  John  papers.     If 
the  angler  should  prefer  going  to  the  Bay  of  Chaleurs,  he  should 
take  the  railroad  to  Shediac,  and  then  the  stage  by  way  of  Chatham 
to  Bathurst,  and  make  the  latter  his  base  of  operations.     From  this 
he  can  make  excursions  to  Bass  River,  the  Nigadou.*  Little  Nipissiguit, 
Tittigouche,  and  Big  Nipissiguit.     The  last  two  enter  the  harbour  at 
Bathurst;   the  others  are  from  seven  to  ten  miles  distant.     These 
streams  are  in  season  at  the  head  of  tide,  from  the  middle  to  the  last 
of  May.    Later  in  the  season  the  trip  might  be  extended  to  Dalhousie, 
where  canoes  can  be  had  and  the  Little  Cascapediac  reached  in  a  day! 
Here  the  Sea-Trout  are  said  to  be  taken  in  the  month  of  August  of 
immense  size.     There  is  good  Sea-Trout  fishing  in  the  Tabasintac, 


•  I  give  the  name  of  this  stream  as  it  u  pronounced ;  I  have  done  so  in  one  or 
two  other  instances,  where  the  name  cannot  be  found  on  any  map  within  my  reach. 


662 


AMBRIOAN    ANOLBR'S    BOOK. 


^^X^Htt 


'•^•♦VotR 


THE  SAOUENAT. 


twenty  miles  this  side  of  Bathurst,  from  the  first  of  July  to  the 
middle  of  August,  if  one  will  go  some  six  or  eight  miles  below  the 
half-way  house,  where  he  dines  in  going  from  Chatham  to  Bathurst, 
and  is  willing  to  submit  to  be  bled  by  black  flies  and  mosquitoes. 

If  one's  time  is  limited,  he  should  go  in  June  or  July  to  Quebec, 
and  there  take  a  steamer,  which  leaves  every  few  days,  for  the  Saguenay, 
the  western  terminus  of  the  range  of  Sea-Trout  on  the  St.  I,awrence. 
He  will  land  at  Tadousac,  a  few  miles  above  the  entrance  of  the 
Saguenay.  This  would  occupy  but  a  few  days  from  Boston.  After 
fishing  in  the  vicinity  of  Tadousac,  he  might  follow  the  directions 
vhich  I  here  quote  ii-om  one  of  the  letters  of  a  friend  at  Montreal. 

"The  Tadousac  Hotel  was  opened  last  year,  and  proved  to  be  a  good, 
comfortable  house.    This  year  it  has  been  leased  by  Mr.  Browning,  of  the 


8BA-TR0UT   PISHINO. 


$5B 


Ottawa  Hotel  .„  th.«  c.ty.  a  New  Englander.  and  well  known  a.  a  p,.pul„ 
hotel-keeper.     It  may  probably  be  at  timee  uncomfortably  crowded 

The  way  really  to  enjoy  a  Sea-trouting  holiday  on  the  Saguenay  i,  to 
h.re  a  p.lot-boat  at  Tadousac.  with  a  canoo  and  two  men.  carrying  with 

h«t  of  the  bluffs  (or  »ay  to  Cape  Trinity),  and  the  party  will  then  coast 
down  from  point  to  point,  or  f«,m  one  fishing-station  to  the  next;  climbing 
mountains  exploring  -n..U  riT«r..  gathering  specimens,  and  fishing,  jus! 
as  fancy  dictates^  Six  or  eight  days  would  thus  pass  very  pleasantly, 
.ng  orrerT:-  ^'^  ««'>-«-««>-«i».  Some  of  them  are  (in  descend 

"1.  Eternity  Cove.    2.  St.  Jean  Bay.    3.  Little  Saguenay  River.  4.  River 

sTEtie        R         o't    ««*-^-«-^*e«-.    7.  Grosse  Roche. 
8.  St.  Etienne  Bay.     9.  Passe  Pierre  Islets. 

J  According  to  my  experience,  those  numbered  1.  2.  4.  5.  9.  are  ordi- 

"The  next  Sea-Trout  fishing  station  is  at  the  River  Bergeronne •  the 
next  at  Sault  au  Canchon  (an  excellent  station).  Various  others  of'  less 
value  along  the  coast.  Then  there  are  any  number  of  capital  stations 
between  Tnn.ty  R.ver  and  Bay  of  Islands,  and  then  again  at  Mingan 
Towards  the  end  of  August  and  in  September  these  fish'ascend  mosf^f 
the  smaller  nvers  in  these  neighborhoods,  and  are  caught  of  much  larger 
size  m  the  fresh  water  than  in  the  sea,  while  in  June  and  July  they  are 
in  the  salt  water  only  (or  at  least  chiefly)." 

In  addition  to  these  streams  is  the  Leval,  about  sixty  miles  below 
Tadousac.  '^  Barnwell,"  in  his  book  "  The  Game  Fish  of  the  North  " 
gives  an  interesting  description  of  this  river;  from  which  it  appears 
that  a  great  drawback  to  the  pleasure  of  the  trip  was  th.  abundance 
of  the  fish  and  the  ease  with  which  they  were  taken. 


INLAND   TROUT    FISHING. 

The  reader,  of  course,  will  not  confound  the  fish  which  forms  the  sub- 
ject  of  the  following  paper,  with  the  not  less  beautiful  Sea-Trout  n.en. 
tioned  in  the  previous  article.  This,  whatever  its  size,  or  whether  found 
in  stream  or  lake,  is  our  familiar  old  friend  Salmo  fontlnalU.  My 
purpose  here  is  to  give  the  account  furnished  in  the  subjoined  paper, 
of  one  of  the  localities  where  its  size  surpasses  that  of  the  Trout  of 
any  region  yet  explored  by  the  fly-fisher.  It  is  from  the  pen  of 
Elisha  J.  Lewis,  'M.  D.,  author  of  "  The  American  Sportsman," 
editor  of  "  Youatt  on  the  Dos."  and  writer  of  many  humorous  stories 
and  incidents  of  sporting  life. 

A  PISCATORIAL  EXCURSION  IN  THE  AUTUMN  OF  1864.  TO.  LAKES 
UMBAOOG  AND  MOLLYCHUNKEMUNK,  WITH  A  DESCRIPTION  OF 
RAPID  RIVER,  STATE  OF  MAINE. 

Being  advised,  brother  angler,  that  you  were  about  putting  through 
the  press  a  second  edition  of  your  very  attractive  volume  on  American 
angling,  I  thought  it  would  not  be  amiss  to  give  you  a  short  sketch  "  currenl^ 
ralamo"  of  a  piscatorial  trip  to  Oxford  county,  Maine,  during  the  autumn 

of  1864. 

Having  been  unavoidably  detained  in  the  city  during  the  whole 
of  the  summer  solstice,  I  found  myself,  at  the  close  of  the  hot  season, 
considerably  enervated  by  the  long  confinement  within  the  narrow  radius 
of  hot  brick  and  mortar.  Being  now  at  leisure.  I  naturally,  as  is  my 
wont  at  this  season  of  the  year,  began  to  cast  about  for  some  retired  nook 

(654) 


INL.«ND    TROUT    FISHING. 


666 


In  the  country,  far  away  from  the  busy  haunts  of  plodding  man.  whore  I 
might  enjoy  to  my  heart's  content  that  modicum  of  otium  which  an  enthu- 
slastic  lover  of  nature  is  so  glad  to  bestow  upon  himself  during  the  fr». 
grunt  spring  or  the  frosty  autumn. 

About  this  time  my  attention  was  directed  to  the  woods  and  streams  of 
Maine ;  for  they,  most  ai.«uredly.  promised  novelty,  seclusion,  and  freedom 
from  worldly  cares,  as  well  as  the  additional  attractions  of  wild  scenery 
and  .>ut-d.«,r  life.  After  a  brief  consultation  with  a  friend,  who  hud  lately 
returned  from  a  summer's  excursion  to  a  lovely  chain  of  lakes  in  Oxford 
county,  of  this  border  state,  I  concluded  to  pack  up  and  be  off;  and  of 
course,  as  a  sensible  sportsman  and  true  angler,  I  took  my  gun  and  rod 
along  for  company. 

On  Wednesday,  September  2l8t,  1864.  at  11  a.  u.,  I  found  myself  seated 
in  the  cars,  on  the  point  of  leaving  for  New  York,  from  thence  to  Boston  by 
•  the  Norwich  boat,  at  5  p.  m.     Arrived  at  Boston  the  next  day,  Thursday, 
the  22d,  at  6  a.  k.,  engaged  a  cab,  and  went  immediately  to  the  station  of 
the  Maine  Central  Railroad,  Uwk  breakfast  in  the  caf6  attached  to  the 
building,  and  loft  at  7.30  a.  u.  for  Portland  ;  from  thence  per  Grand  Trunk 
Railroad,  to  Bethel.     Arrived  at  Bethel  about  5  p.  m..  remained  all  night 
at  Lovejoy's  Hotel,  an  excellent  country  house,  with  an  obliging  and  atten- 
tive  landlord.     The  next  day,  Friday,  the  23d,  we  left  Bethel  in  the  ordi- 
nary stage  coach  for  Upton,  twenty-six  miles  distant.     The  road  over  the 
mountains  and  through  the  gaps  is  not  devoid  of  interest,  some  of  the  dis- 
tant  views  are  very  bold  and  attractive,  some  of  the  valleys  fertile  and 
picturesque,  with  meadow  lands  watered  by  meandering  brooks,  filled  with 
nimble  Trout.     The  road  is  rough  in  some  places,  but  not  positively  bad* 
it  being  far  superior  to  many  of  the  rude  mountain  paths  in  our  own  state.' 
over  which  wo  have  jostled  and  jolted  right  merrily,  in  quest  of  new 
Trout  streams. 

We  alighted  at  our  place  of  destination  about  sunset,  having  loitered 
considerably  on  the  road.  The  town  of  Upton  is  composed  of  a  few  scat- 
tered houses,  situated  on  high  ground,  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Umbagog,  which 
lovely  sheet  of  water  commences  th^  chain  of  wild  lakes  and  mountain 
rapids,  stretching  many,  many  miles,  far  to  the  northward. 

Mr.  Frost,  the  proprietor  of  an  excellent  house  at  the  lake  at  the  bottom 
of  the  hill,  extended  to  us  a  genial,  simple,  and  unaffected  welcome,  and 
we  soon  found  comfortable  quarters  under  his  hospitable  roof.  A  few 
paces  in  front  of  the  inn  is  a  mountain  rivulet  which  flows  into  the  lake  a 
short  distance  beyond. 


466 


AMERICAN    ANOLBE    «    B00» 


I  iTMUntmvdto  t!  '^  bridge  whicli  ..vcrUjokcu  thb  babbliiiK.  noisy  brook, 
and  WM  mm^  intere»t.;d  in  some  hu  'srrown  urchins  fishing  in  th« 
ripplod  ftna  e<<ld(<i|  ffm  off  the  bouldern,  and  was  wit  *  little  surprised  to 
see  thoin  quite  uncouoerr  Mly  whip  out  Trout  from  a  hai  >ound  to  a  pound 
in  weight.  I  was  informe<l  that  this  small  stream,  previous  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  mill-dam  just  above  th«  bridgo,  was  alive  with  Brook  Trout 
of  good  sizo,  l)ut  the  structure  being  too  high  for  the  fish  to  jump  over, 
»nd  no  openings  being  loft  in  the  solid  work  through  which  they  could 
insinuate  themselves  during  the  spring  freshets,  few  or  nono  remain.  This, 
nJas  1  is  the  swl  history  of  many  a  fine  Trout  rillet  in  our  own  state,— the 
•aw-mill  and  the  tannery  are  the  two  most  destructive  agents  in  depopu- 
lating our  mountain  l)rooks. 

The  following  day,  the  24th,  found  us  at  on  early  hour  on  board  of 
the  steamer  Union,  bound  up  Lake  Umbagog  to  Rapid  River,  about 
thirteen  miles  distant. 

I  cannot  write  much  in  commendation  of  this  water  shallop,  yclept  a 
rife   mer,  either  as  to  its  conveniences  or  security  as  a  passenger  wherry. 
I  had  heard  tell  of  before  now,  and  perhaps  had  seen  more  than  once,  what, 
lu  common  parlance  was  called  an  hermaphrodite  brig  (a  nautical  term 
applied  to  a  sailing  vessel  built  and  rigged  in  a  style  something  between 
a  full  brig  and  a  schwmer),  but  it  was  reserved  for  me  to  meet  with  a 
water  crnft  in  the  wilderness  of  Maine,  still  more  curious  and  ingenious 
in  its  conception  than  anything  which  had  yet  been  constructed  on  our 
seorboard.     For.  in  truth,  our  craft  the  steamer  Union  was  a  nondescript 
abortion,  or  cross  between  a  mud-scow  and  a  locomotive ;  it  might  very  pro 
perly,  in  accordance  with  naval  nomenclature,  have  been  christened  an 
hermaphrodite      icomotive.     An  old  worn-out,  rusty  looking  locomotive 
boiler  had  been  assiduously  patched  up,  after  many  years  of  hard  service, 
and  with  ir.uch  toil  and  tribulation,  had  safely  passed  over  the  mountains, 
not  of  itself,   however,  but  by  the  aid  of  two  yokes    >f  oxen.     Having 
arrived  tit  the  Lake,  the  rusty  old  veteran  was  placed  about  midships  on 
board  of  a  roughly-built  scow,  thirty  feet  long  and  some  ten  or  a  dozen 
feet  wide.     This  v<inerftblc  but  not  overly  sound  relic  of  mechanicol  archi- 
tecture, being  fired     .with the  inflammable  hemlock  of  the  country,  soon 
furnished  steam  enou^.    f-  i;r,*  in  motion  the  cylinder  which  by  the  aid  of 
cogs  controlled  the  re  0),      ,«,:  of   :  3  stern-Y<heel,  and  thus  propelled  our 
hybrid  craft  over  th.  pVu-.    «vu  . .«  of  the  Lrke  at  the  astounding  rate  of 
five  milesan  hour,  or,  "Ua  a .  i)  head  of  stc  uu,  even  faster.     Such  portions 
of  the  rickety  old  scow  as  were  not  previously  occupied  by  the  lumbersome 


INLAND    TROUT   PI8HIN0. 


6A7 


X, 


0.  .hi.  „„  J,h  „,.ft  '•"  »»."r.i«.,n.  cough  ^  .,u.,  ,-  „„„,,« 

"i"  .hi.  .„,...„,„,«,„,„•: '"71  "7" """»''  '•  ""-'"POP 

"taiidin,.  „,,  ap         ,  .  .  '  •'»  <>••  <»  own,  ih.t,  „„„i,|,. 

•h.  Uk„.  "^  •  '""'  "  "•"•  ■■»"»■  perilou.  «rui„  „„, 

^.. .  .o„M « „„.:  z:: r:;-  7!::r;  t  -■""  "^"'"■' 

preserver  ar„u„d  my  body  and  a  v      7^       •.  '"*''°"*  "  ^""^  ^'f' 

the  larger  portion  of  it  wa      T  'T  "  "'  "^  ^"°  ""^  '"  -^'''.  -<» 

mgged,  picturesque,  and  very  attractive     Sn  ^Z       '        "''""'■•^  '" 

vary  the  landscape  and  give  ^dl:  ulrtlZlr t  ^"  ^'^  '^^' 
views.     I  h..  a  few  distant  shots  at  wild  fow    J  we T  '^  '  "' ''" 

which  diversion  assisted  somewhat  Tn  di-T    V  ^""""^  "'^  **"''  ^'^''«' 

"ibilant  hoi,er..-an  occasionri  '  .;lt^L:^^?^^  ^'"'"  ^''^ 
which  reverberated  in  deafenin.  .  .  ^ '"'"""''  *^~"»  *'"'  ^tenm  whistle, 
-ntain  passes,  also  intj  it^  Z  2  ^  T  ^"'""^'^  ''' 
fulness  of  immediate  danger.  *"P  ""'^  ''""''^  ^^^g^^ 

As  soon  as  the  hermaphrodite  came  f„  her  moorinirs  «n  . 

transferred  to  a  good-sized  flat-bottomod  sk  /and  k  1      ""       ''  ""' 
the  captain  of  the  steamer  ll.i.  1  ^  **""  ""'*'"^  ^ff^"-''  «f 

-ere  L.. ,  d  al  a"  L  unR  ",  ':^''''^'''  "'''  "'«  ''«'—.  - 

->.ag..omm::e:VLrri::::;-r^^^^^^ 

,  ^iiuer  mese  circumstances   a  circuitous  t.„*i.   .u        . 

:::;ri:irht:i:r"-----^-t:: 

-or~.,..,i....,,j:!:-j-:;:::^^^^ 


668 


AMERICAN   A'^OLER'S   BOOX. 


over  this  wild  and  rough-hewn  patron  a  rude  buck-board  arrangement,  is 
quite  another  affair. 

However,  the  faithful  and  highly  intelligent  old  mare  to  whom  is  almost 
entirely  intrusted  this  mission,  accomplished  her  arduous  task  with  great 
credit  to  herself,  and  I  have  no  just  grounds  for  complaint  against  her, 
although  I  had  sundry  bottles  of  pickles,  fish-sauce,  and  stomach-bitters 
stowed  away  in  the  depths  of  a  capacious  travelling-bag. 

I  wish  I  could  say  as  much  for  the  owner  of  this  sagacious  animal ;  but 
I  cannot,  in  justice  to  my  brother  anglers,  do  it.  Mr.  Rich,  the  proprie- 
tor of  the  "  Angler's  Retreat,"  and  the  self-appointed  exclusive  purveyor 
for  all  the  goods  and  chattels  in  transitu  over  the  carry,  had,  in  a 
moment  of  mental  obliteration,  neglected  to  take  any  precautions  against 
the  poBsiblo  contingency  of  a  storm  in  this  mountain  path.  The  conse- 
quences following  in  the  wake  of  this  shameful  want  of  ordinary  forethought 
on  his  part,  were  of  serious  import  to  our  party,  as  the  whole  of  our  luggage 
was  exposed  for  several  hours  to  a  pitiless  storm  of  rain  and  sleet,  without 
a  particle  of  covering  of  any  description  to  protect  it. 

The  buck-wagon  broke  down  on  the  journey  over  the  carry,  and  was 
thereby  detained  on  the  route  till  after  10  o'clock  at  night.  Our  traps, 
being  thus  given  up  to  the  fury  of  the  elements  for  so  long  a  time,  were 
necessarily  delivered  to  us  in  a  most  shocking  condition  of  humectation 
and  congelation.  All  of  which,  as  well  as  these  strictures  upon  our  host, 
might  have  been  avoided  by  the  purchase  of  a  few  yards  of  tarpauling  or 
oiled  duck,  and  which  I  respectfully  recommend  him  to  do  before  the 
opening  of  another  season. 

About  halfway  over  the  carry  we  stopped  at  a  camp  occupied  by  several 
gentlemen  from  Boston,  who  treated  us  very  courteously.  This  party  had 
been  fishing  in  the  Rapid  River  principally,  for  two  weeks,  but  did  not 
boast  of  much  success  in  their  catch,  though  some  of  them  were  skilful 

anglers. 

We  killed  some  ruffed  grouse  while  crossing  the  carry,  and  saw  some 
spruce  grouse,  the  Canada  Canadensis.  We  did  not  leave  the  path  to  hunt 
these  birds,  but  shot  at  those  alone,  that  were  feeding  on  the  road.  In  the 
summer  season  the  spruce  grouse  are  very  plentiful  in  this  region,  and  are 
astonishingly  tamo.  Mr.  Clement  S.  Phillips,  a  gentleman  weU  known  in 
our  city  for  his  devotion  to  the  "  gun  and  rod,"  informed  me  that  while  at 
Rich's  last  August,  he  killed  fifteen  of  these  birds  within  stone's-throw 
of  the  Camp.  The  plumage  of  the  spruce  grouse  is  very  beautifully  varie- 
gated, and  the  flesh  excellent  for  the  table. 


INLAND   TRO'UT    FISHINO. 


659 


After  a  rather  fatiguing  walk  of  two  hou'rs.  much  of  it  uphill  work,  we 
amved  at  Rich's  Camp,  alias  <.The  Angler's  Retreat,"  quite  in  time 
lor  the  afternoon's  fishing. 

The  Camp  consists  of  two  primitive-looking,  squatty  log-feabins.  one  of 
Which  IS  used  as  a  culinary  department,  the  other,  somewhat  larger,  is 
divided  off  into  four  sleeping-rooms  and  a  salle  d  manger,  or  general 
reception-room  or  hall.  In  one  corner  of  this  apartment  there  are  three  . 
dirty,  gloomy,  badly-ventilated  bunks,  intended  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  guests  or  the  guides,  as  the  case  might  be.  There  is  another  cabin  in 
course  of  construction,  immediately  contiguous  to  the  larger  one,  which  is 
a  little  more  pretentious  than  those  already  erected,  and  will  afford  much 
additional  room  next  season,  and  at  the  same  time  insure  some  little  privacy 
and  comfort  to  the  visitors. 

The  grounds  around  the  camp  are  rough  and  unsightly,  and  rendered 
positively  filthy  by  the  accumulated  droppings  of  the  cow,  the  numerous 
slaughtered  sheep,  and  the  mass  of  fish  garbage  which  is  continuously 
thrown  from  the  kitchen  by  the  dirtiest  and  worot-mannered  galley  scul- 
lion  whom  one  may  ever  wish  to  encounter. 

Rich's  Camp  or  "The  Angler's  Retreat"  is  situated  at  Middle  Dam 
or  rather  on  a  slight  elevation  of  ground  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Mollychunke^ 
munk.  At  this  point  the  lake  empties  itself  through  a  narrow  gut  or  channel 
into  Rapid  River.  This  channel  is  not  over  fifty  feet  wide  and  a  couple 
of  hundred  feet  long-the  current  is  swift  and  strong.  This  is  the  spot 
par  excellence  to  kill  the  gamy  Trout. 

The  view  across  and  up  the  Lake  from  the  Retreat,  which  is  built  on  a 
clearing  at  the  very  edge  of  the  forest,  is  very  attractive.  When  the  wea- 
ther is  favorable,  the  tourist  as  well  as  the  sportsman  could  no  doubt  derive 
much  enjoyment  from  boating  and  sailing  on  the  Lake. 

Soon  after  our  arrival  we  were  informed  that  the  Camp  wos  poorly  sup- 
plied with  food-nothing  to  be  had  in  the  way  of  edibles  save  slices  of 
Btrong-tasted  fat  pork  fried,  with  tough  bread.  I  must  confess  that  I 
was  quite  startled  at  this  announcement,  in  consideration  of  the  beautiful 
visions  of  wild-game,  corn-cakes,  hot  buckwheats,  ham  and  eggs,  and  other 
like  delicacies  which  Mr.  Rich's  flaming  circular  had  conjured  up  in  my 
mind's  eye. 

Not  wishing  to  go  to  bed  supperless,  to  say  nothing  of  the  natural 
impulse,  we  soon  put  our  rods  together,  and  sallied  down  to  the  Narrows 
the  favored  haunt  of  the  -speckled  beauties.    The  afternoon  was  cool  and  a 
little  humid,  but  the  air  felt  fresh  and  bracing  as  it  swept  gently  over  the 


! 


ll'l 


660 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Lake.  The  fish,  fortunately  for  us,  were  on  the  feed,  and  they  did  not 
require  much  coaxing  or  toying  with.  In  the  course  of  an  hour  we  killed 
several  fine  Brook  Trout,  ranging  from  one  to  three  pounds,  and  soon  had 
the  exquisite  satisfaction  of  seeing  a  brace  of  the  largest  beauties  placed 
before  us,  cooked  in  cream— to  me  a  novel  1  ut  most  delicious  mode  of  serv- 
ing these  fish. 

"  Night's  swift  dragons  oat  the  clouds  full  fast, 
And  yonder  shines  Aurora's  harbinger." 

The  next  morning,  the  25th,  we  were  at  the  Narrows  quite  early:  the 
day  had  scarcely  broken  when  we  took  our  station.  The  morning  was 
cool  and  frosty,  the  clouds  were  breaking  away,  and  the  wind  coming  out 
from  the  west  was  fast  driving  from  the  heavens  all  remnants  of  the  storm 
which  had  so  fiercely  raged  during  the  night.  Before  there  was  sufficient 
light  to  enable  us  to  distinguish  our  flies  as  they  gently  fell  on  the  water, 
the  fish  were  on  the  alert  and  began  to  jump  quite  lively. 

In  the  course  of  two  hours'  fishing  from  the  same  spot,  we  killed  several 
fine  Trout,  ranging,  as  before,  from  one  pound  to  three  pounds.  These 
fish  we  may  observe  are  not  as  active  and  gamy  in  proportion  to  their  size 
as  the  Brook  Trout  of  Pennsylvania.  It  may  be  different  with  them, 
however,  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  when  they  are  presumed  to  be  in  ful 
strength  and  vigor.  During  the  middle  of  the  day  it  was  quite  useless  to 
cast  the  fly  at  the  Narrows,  as  we  could  not  get  a  rise.  The  fish  were  evi- 
dently in  the  deep  waters  of  the  Lake  during  this  time,  or  our  movements 
being  so  easily  distinguished,  alarmed  them. 

The  Rapid  River  is  a  bold  and  precipitous  stream  of  water,  rushing 
through  the  mountain  gorges  ;  it  is  filled  with  huge  boulders,  from  which 
the  angler  can  whip  the  eddies  and  deep  pools  on  either  side.  A  more 
beautiful  and  attractive  stream  for  the  daring  and  sturdy  Trout  could  not 
bp  found  in  the  wide  world.  In  the  spring  this  river  course  is  filled  to 
repletion  with  these  crimson-spotted  beauties,  and  many  positively  of  huge 
dimensions  are  killed.  I  saw  some  very  large  fish  at  Frost's,  which  were 
captured  in  the  Megalloway  river,  a  stream  which  comes  from  the  far  north 
and  empties  into  the  Androscoggin  a  short  distance  below  the  mouth  of 
Lake  Umbagog— one  of  these  monsters,  a  veritable  Salmo  fontimlia, 
weighed  7J  lbs.,  another  6  lbs.,  another  5  lbs. 

Excursions  are  made  to  the  Megalloway  from  Frost's,  where  skiffs  and 
provisions  can  be  obtained,  as  well  as  guides  for  the  journey.  1  was  tcld 
by  persons  entitled  to  confidence,  that  Brook  Trout  weighing  ten  pounds 


INIAKD   TROni  PISHISa. 


661 


'•™  ""«■'  '«'™  in  the  waters  of  thew  lakes     Ol^.tt.- 

«"t»,  that  (her.  i.  „„  ~  ■       ,      "■"MiMee.    Of  one  thing  we  feel  quite 

.pot  for  the  eprighU,  gan.b„l,  „f  ,te  Br«,k  T„„t  ZtTl  ^^  ^ 

I  was  told  bj  those  who  had  iehedat  Ihr^lr  ,  encountered. 

-».  sp.n„  that  on.  „i,h.  ai,  x^  r:r,Lrjzr - 

greas^salt  po.k  and  Zle^;^  rtrn'r'^r  T'"^"'""'''^  ^ 
nothing  of  in,p.rtinenee  ,J^T,  Z^,  Z  I"  I  "  -^  ^  "' 
par.  of  the  half-tip.,  „„,„  ^  ..(.^'tr  I  ,s^''  o'r  "J  °°  "" 
was  eoncerned,  were  even  more  p,es.i„„  thloTh  "  **  "''''' 

now  short  of  „ilk  and  crean,,  ^ZltZTl:T'1:  "  "'  '"^ 
to  return  f„„  her  feeding- J,„nd7r.KT^  °  ""  ""'"^  "■"■'=•» 
One  „t  ,«,„  Ik-  grounds  in  the  woods  at  het  aecustonied  hour 

One  of  two  th  ings  was  certain ,  she  had  either  lost  her  way  in  the  win 
ue„,  or  had  been  set  upon  by  the  bear,  of  wl,i„h  T  " 

almost  impassable  foresL  skiLig  th    lis     ^e    ni^e  T'  "  "' 

ar„x:r:ottr'*°^  "--^  -.prett,weiigr::: 

.ave  an  old  cotton  umbrella  if  sull,  lit  "■""  "'  "^  """""P''"" 
offence,  was  .udde„l7c:  f:  1  '  X?  ''k""  "■"  °'  ■""""  " 
dispute  the  right  of  way     Our  „  ^^  '  "''°  "'"""'  '"''"«"' '» 

ranee  Of  .11  .L  «Xndt  "r^w'^rr  ^t' hilT 
and  idios^ncrasiesof  wild  animal,,  acted  with  wonderful  I:X:1:^ 


662 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


E!!l 


most  trying  contre-temps.  Instead  of  taking  to  his  heels  and  making  off 
as  fast  as  possible,  as  most  inexperienced  persons  would  have  done,  and 
thereby  courting  pursuit  and  attack  on  the  part  of  the  beast,  he  stood  his 
ground  manfully,  and  looking  the  sulky  animal  straight  in  the  eyes  for  a 
few  moments,  suddenly  thrust  open  the  old  cotton  umbrella,  and  waving 
it  furiously  around  his  head  in  a  very  defiant  manner,  so  alarmed  the  bear 
by  the  monstrously-magnified  appearance  of  his  antagonist,  that  he  turned 
tail  and  was  soon  heard  crashing  at  a  terrible  pace  through  the  fastnesses 
of  the  forest. 

The  sun  was  just  dipping  behind  the  mountain  in  our  rear  as  we  reached 
the  Narrows.  The  atmosphere  was  bracing,  and  the  surface  of  the  Lake 
was  raised  into  little  ripples  by  the  gentle  breeze  which  stole  softly  from 
the  north.  We  took  our  old  station  on  the  rook  at  the  edge  of  the  water, 
and  seeing  a  rise,  made  a  cast  and  landed  a  beautiful  Trout  of  two  pounds. 
Then  another  cast  or  two,  and  another  victim  was  consigned  to  the  floating 
trap ;  and  thus  we  continued  killing  fish  after  fish  till  the  shades  of  night 
closed  around  us. 

One  fact  we  particularly  noted,  that  the  very  moment  the  sun  sunk  from 
view  behind  the  mountain  tops  directly  in  our  rear,  the  fish  rose  to  the  fly 
with  increased  avidity  and  boldness.  This  undoubtedly  was  the  conse- 
quence of  our  moving  shadow  on  the  water  being  no  longer  visible  when 
the  sun  had  disappeared  from  view.  On  this  point  Hofland,  in  his  Manual, 
very  properly  remarks : — "  Avoid,  if  possible,  fishing  with  the  sun  behind 
you,  as  the  moving  shadow  of  yourself  and  rod  will  alarm  the  fish." 
The  Trout  at  times  were  wonderfully  bold  and  persistent  in  their  efforts 
to  seize  the  fly.  I  have  seen  the  same  fish  brought  to  the  surface  a  half, 
dozen  times  in  vain  attempts  to  take  the  deception,  but  by  some  mischance 
or  other  missing  the  lure  on  each  occasion,  and  even  following  the  attract- 
ive morsel  as  it  was  drawn  over  the  surface,  two  or  three  yards  towards 
the  angler. 

"  But  look  !  the  morn,  in  russet  mantle  clad, 
Walks  o'er  the  dew  of  yon  high  eastern  hill." 

The  following  day,  the  26th,  we  fished  in  the  morning  at  the  Narrows. 
We  landed  several  good  fish  about  the  same  weights  as  previously,  none 
under  one  pound,  none  over  three.  In  the  afternoon  two  sportsmen,  who 
came  into  the  lakes  by  the  way  of  Andover,  arrived  at  the  camp.  From 
what  they  told  me,  I  am  quite  sure  that  it  is  the  most  pleasant  as  well  as 
economical  way  of  reaching  either  the  Upper  Dam  or  Rich's  Retreat,  to 


INLAND    TROUT   FISHING. 


663 


say  no  h.„g  of   he  dangers  of  a  cruise  on  the  hermaphrodite  locomotive, 
and  the  ong  walk  over  the  carry.     We  treated  the  new-comers  to  the  bes^ 

usual  andT  ^"Tl^  '''  ''"'^"  ^"""•^"'  '^'^'  ^^  ^  ^«"-  ^"^  thin 
u  ual.  and  beahrred  h.mseif  in  cooking  to  a  point  a  mess  of  our  fish  for  Ms 

Z^l  t       "T '  ""'  ^^^  ^"  ^^"^^°«  *«-«•  -^  -'-ed  sut 

larded    h  T.  "^  ^'''"'  "'^  ''^^'"^*  *^«  ""^^S-  — -  "^  the 
arde  .  and  the  desolate  appearance  of  the  Camp.     They  both  got  a  fit  of 

thblue,  and  wentoff  early  thenextmorning.  without  so  much  as  wetting 
aline;  and  thus  presenting  an  admirable  commentary  on  the  promised 
comforts  of  the  "  Angler's  home  in  the  wilderness." 


"  He  lifts  his  silver  gills  above  the  flood, 
And  greedily  sucks  in  the  unfaithful  food, 
Then  downward  plunges  with  the  fraudful  prey. 
And  bears,  with  joy,  the  little  spoil  away." 

a  11'"/- ']"'  ".*''  """^  *"'"^'*  '  """^  ^  ^«'y  *»«-y  "-.  «-dently 
sn  1       »    T?  *''  "  "■■'*"  -<l-a«o-"-I  mean  the  "  noise  and 

splashing  The  voracious  monster  missed  the  gaudy-winged  deception, 
and  sunk  disappointedly  into  the  depths  of  the  channel,  to  bo  lured  again 
therefrom  at  the  next  cast  of  my  "  Montreal."  Sure  enough,  up  the  rover 
came,  as  savage  as  before,  the  moment  the  stretcher  fly  touched  the  sur- 
face,  and  fairly  leaping  from  the  water,  made  a  dart  at  the  treacherous 
insect  I  once  more  saw  my  victim  overshoot  the  juggle  I  strove  so  hard 
to  foist  upon  him,  and  down  he  went  a  second  time  as  he  rolled  over  on 
his  side  and  disappeared  from  view. 

About  this  time  I  was  considerably  nervous,  at  all  events  very  anxious  • 
my  heart  began  to  thump,  my  breathing  became  shorter,  my  pulse  beai 
quu,ker,  and  my  knees,  sympathizing  with  the  general  excitation,  were  a 
htt  e  tremulous.     "  Now,  or  never."  said  I  to  myself.  "  for  a  ten  pounder," 
as  I  made  a  third  cast  a  little  further  down  the  channel.     My  arm  was 
steady,  my  wrist  was  true  to  its  work,  the  "  tinselled  cheat"  fell  gently 
and  noiselessly  on  the  bosom  of  the  rippling  waters.     Up,  the  bold  tenant 
of  the  Narrows  darted  with  the  dash  and  fury  of  a  greedy  half-starved 
pickerel.    This  time  he  seized  the  lure-I  struck  at  the  opportune  moment 
and  secured  the  daring  poacher-away  went  the  clicking  reel,  as  he  swept 
across  the  gut.  and  then  taking  a  sudden  turn  went  down  stream  into  deep 
water.     Having  every  confidence  in  line  and  rod,  I  now  gave  a  few  turn, 
to  the  reel,  as  it  were  to  feel  my  "  quarry."    Up  stream  the  captive  dashed. 


664 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


leaving  a  considerable  length  of  Black-line  to  be  managed.    I  reeled  up 
as  fast  as  possible,  and  got  the  control  of  my  line.    The  prisoner  had 
evidently  reached  deep  water  behind  a  sunken  rock,  and  thus  hid  away, 
deemed  himself  secure  from  further  assault.    Now,  pulling  on  the  line  a 
little,  the  fish  struggled  and  pricked  himself  afresh-up  he  cume  to  the 
surface  with  a  single  swoop,  and  springing  vigorously  two  or  three  times 
clean  out  of  the  water,  took  down  the  stream  with  the  velocity  of  ^ 
arrow  to  the  deep  pool,  as  before.     I  now  began  to  hold  him  a  little 
taut,— he  was  less  restive— I  reeled  up  a  few  feet,  he  struggled  man- 
fully for  liberty,  but  I  had  him  too  securely  hooked,  and  was  quite 
willing  to  trust  to  the  tenacity  of  my  rod  and  line.    He  made  another 
effort  at  a  run  ;  I  gave  him  line,  then  checked  him ;  his  strength  was  evi- 
dently on  the  wane,  and  I  felt  confident  of  his  capture.    The  prisoner  was 
fast  losing  his  spirit  and  boldness,  and  began  to  sulk,  pulling  heavily  oa 
the  rod,  and  there  were  no  further  formidable  efforts  made  at  gyrating  and 
floundering  about.    I  still  continued  to  slowly  reel  in  my  line,  and  gradu- 
ally  forced  the  fish  towards  me  from  out  of  the  deep  water.     In  about 
twenty  minutes  from  the  time  I  struck  him,  I  had  brought  my  captive  to 
the  surface,  when  I  well  knew  from  the  projecting  languid  eye-balls  and 
the  half-extended  jaws  that  he  was  nearly  done  for.     My  companion  at 
the  Narrows,  who  was  very  skilful  in  the  use  of  the  landing-net  as  well  as 
the  rod,  and  from  whom  I  received  much  information  and  many  courtesies 
during  my  sojourn  at  the  lakes,  now  placed  himself  on  a  large  rock  at  the 
edge  of  the  water,  and  by  a  dexterous  movement  secured  my  prisoner. 
Before  landing  the  fish  I  was  much  disappointed  in  the  discovery  that  he 
was  not  near  so  large  as  I  had  concluded  from  his  sprightly  actions  in  the 
first  place,  and  the  dead  pull  made  on  the  line  towards  the  close  of  the 
struggle.    This  dead  weight,  however,  was  soon  accounted  for,  when  my 
companion  called  out  to  me  to  "  keep  cool"  and  throw  him  my  landing-net,  as 
there  was  another  fish  securely  hooked  on  the  stretcher  fly.    In  a  moment 
both  fishes  were  safe  within  the  meshes  of  the  capacious  net. 

I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  feelings  of  pleasure  with  which  I 
handled  these  two  beautiful  fish,  that  had  afforded  me  so  much  diversion. 
The  larger  one  weighed  three  and  a  half  pounds,  the  other  two  pounds- 
making  in  all  five  pounds  and  a  half. 

The  following  morning,  the  27th,  was  cold  and  bleak  when  we 
turned  out  of  the  Camp— wrapped  up  warmly  in  a  heavy  coat,  we  took 
our  station  at  the  Narrows  some  time  before  the  dawn.  It  was  too  dark  to 
cast,  and  we  patiently  awaited  the  first  streaks  of  light  as  they  crept  over 


INLAND    TROUT    PISHINO. 


665 


the  distant  hills,  smoking  a  light  havana  in  the  interim,  to  keep  our  nose 
from  frosting. 

At  the  first  break  of  day  the  fish  began  to  show  signs  of  life,  and  so  con- 
tinued to  jump  notwithstanding  a  spit  of  fine  snow  which  covered  the 
waters  and  obscured  from  our  vision  the  mountain-tops.    In  a  couple  of 
hours  we  had  killed  all  the  fish  we  wanted,  and  reeled  up  for  breakfast 
yhen  we  returned  to  the  camp  Mr.  Rich,  who  had  been  fishing  at  the 
dam  below  the  Narrows,  exhibited  his  catch.    Among  the  victims  were 
two  fish  of  four  and  a  half  and  four  pounds  respectively.    The  largest  one 
he  very  generously  gave  to  me.  and  I  carried  it  in  triumph  to  Boston  to 
grace  the  table  of  one  of  my  epicurean  friends.    We  had  thought  of 
vis.t.ng  the  fishing-grounds  of  the  upper  lakes  further  to  the  north  and 
east   whore,  we  had  been  told,  the  sport  was  even  better  than  that  which 
we  had  enjoyed  at  the  Retreat.     The  weather  being  rather  unpromising 
for  an  open  boat  excursion,  and  the  guide  to  whom  we  applied  being  in  a 
surly  humor,  we  concluded  to  break  camp  and  retrace  our  steps  over  the 
carry  and  Lake  Umbagog  to  Upton.     Soon  after  breakfast  we  bid  adieu  to 
h'  H    lt'\  "  *''  wilderness."  taking  with  us,  safely  lashed  to 

the  buck-lK,ard  arrangement,  a  large  box  of  fish,  which  we  had  preserved 
ahve  m  a  floating  trap  till  the  moment  of  our  departure,  when  we  laid 
them  m  dry  moss  and  stowed  them  safely  in  the  box.  The  trip  across  the 
carry  with  the  exception  of  bagging  a  couple  of  rufl"ed  grouse,  was 
attended  with  no  incident.  We  landed  safely  at  Upton  long  before  sun- 
down, and  hiring  a  small  wagon  we  started  over  the  mountains  to  Bethel 
Where  we  arrived  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night. 

I  might  tell  you  some  things  about  Rich's  Camp  which  would  not  be 
very  agreeable  to  the  proprietor  of  the  "  Angler's  Retreat."  I  might  say 
some  unamiable  but  truthful  things  about  sulky  guides;  in  fact,  I  mighl 
write  much  that  would  be  of  service  to  future  tourists  or  explorers  of  these 
regions ;  but  I  forbear  further  mention  of  these  details,  in  consequence  of 
the  good  sport  I  enjoyed. 

I  trust,  however,  that  the  '•  Retreat"  next  season  may  be  in  better  trim, 
and  that  the  host  will  at  least  strive  to  live  up  more  faithfully  to  the  letter 
of  the  law  as  proclaimed  to  the  world  in  his  flaming  and  attractive  circu- 
lar-otherwise he  should  recant  and  recall  this  delusion  from  circulation. 

Mr.  Rich.  If  he  really  wishes  to  make  his  camp  a  resort  for  sportsmen 
and  tourists,  should  engage  the  services  of  a  couple  of  middle-aged  steady 
women,  one  as  cook,  the  other  as  housemaid  and  waiter ;  and  not  be  de- 
pendent  on  low.  foul-mouthed  ship  scullions,  and  saucy,  dirty  boys  for 


i! 


Hi 


'I 
I 


666 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


gucli  duties.  He  should  teach  his  gentlemanly  guides  to  be  civil,  patient, 
good-humored,  and  obliging  ;  and  above  all,  should  have  them  under  pro- 
per control,  and  under  no  circumstances  permit  them  or  his  kitchen  soul- 
lions  to  bully  and  control  him.  He  should  also  bear  in  mind  that  many 
•will  visit  his  camp  who  are  not  possessed  of  a  redundancy  of  greenbacks, 
but  are  willing,  nevertheless,  to  pay  a  fair  price  for  what  thoy  receive ; 
but  are  quite  averse  to  being  unmercifully  mulcted  in  large  figures  for 
that  which  they  did  not  but  should  have  received. 

■  When  such  arrangements  are  made,  I  will  be  glnd  to  visit  the  "Angler's 
Retreat"  onco  more ;  but  till  then  I  shall  be  content  to  pursue  the  gentle 
c-aft  in  other  localities  where  the  Trout  may  not  be  so  large,  but  the  ao 
companiments  of  the  diversion  far  more  attractive. 

Mr.  Rich  is  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  of  good  stature,  a  fine  face  and 
eagle  eyes ;  he  has  passed  many  years  of  his  life  in  the  deep  solitudes  of 
Maine,  shooting  and  trapping  game  of  all  kinds,  and,  being  a  keen 
observer,  has  necessarily  made  himself  familiar  with  the  habits  of  the 
various  animals  which  frequent  these  northern  latitudes.  I  spent  a  most 
instructive  as  well  as  agreeable  evening  in  his  company  at  the  Camp, 
listening  to  his  recitals  of  wild  adventure  with  deer,  wolves,  bears,  cari- 
bous, panthers,  moose,  and  elk. 

The  flies  most  popular  in  these  northern  waters  are  large,  gaudy-bodied, 
brightrwinged  deceptions,  dressed  on  No,  3  or  4  hooks.  The  Montreal,  a 
fly  well  known  in  Boston  and  Canada,  is  a  great  favorite  here.  We,  how- 
ever, were  more  successful  with  black  and  brown  palmers,  tied  under  our 
own  directions,  by  Mr.  George,  at  Wilson's  Sporting  Emporium  in  this 

city. 

The  true  and  only  legitimate  time  for  Trout-fishing  is  undoubtedly  the 
spring  and  early  summer,  when  the  fish  are  known  to  be  in  the  finest 
condition  of  vigor  and  flesh ;  and  this  trip  is  the  only  occasion  on  which  I 
ever  cast  a  fly  out  of  season.  I  scarcely  think  it  necessary  to  ofier  an 
apology  for  this  transgression  of  the  code.  It  seems  almost  like  afi"ectation 
to  attempt  it,  when  so  many  hundreds  of  anglers,  of  good  sporting  repute, 
commit  the  same  infringement  year  after  year,  and  make  no  secret  of 

their  sins. 

I  have  no  doubt  in  my  own  mind  as  to  the  proper  season  for  killing 
Brook  Trout,  so  far  as  their  future  preservation  is  concerned ;  and  I  would 
be  glad  to  have  these  waters  of  our  border  state,  as  well  as  all  the  streams 
throughout  the  land,  rigorously  protected  by  legislative  enactments.  As 
the  case  now  stands  before  the  country,  the  Trout  in  these  lakes  are 


INLAKD    TKOBT    flSHINS. 


667 


prohfi    waters,  as  is  already  the  case  in  numerous  other  streams  ani 

lakes,  ,n  more  thickly-settled  localities.  *'**^ 

The  largest  Trout,  however,  are  uot  usually  taken  in  oK     a         .     . 

the  latter  part  of  December,  1864.  ""ring 

it  ''Thr?,"T:  r^''  "''''"'  "•*'  '"'*•  "-^^  ^*  *'•"-  -t-ely  out  of 
fishing  -!  "'^^  "^^  '"'"'  '^  ^^'^  ^  ^«  *^«  -"'»«  «f  five  days' 


1 
1 
5 
I 
4 
G 
16 


Trout         weighed 


4i  Ibfl. 

4J  " 

3  " 

2|  " 

2i  " 

2i  " 

2  " 


12 
22 
18 
42 
46 
64 

9 


Trout 


weighed 


« 


1|  Iba. 
li 
H 
1 

i 

i 
i 


« 

« 
« 


Total  catch  237  Trout,  weighing  264J  lbs. 

The  cold  at  times  during  this  excursion  was  intense,  the  thermometer 
ra  g.ng  from    50  above  to  30°  below  zero.    This  party  of  hardy  sportsm 
noth    g  daunte     by  the  chilling  temperature  of  .n  Arctic  wiLr.  con- 
tinued the.r  daUy  routine  of  visits  to  the  numerous  holes  cut  in  the  ic    on 
various  portions  of  the  Lake. 


"The  fertile  earth,  at  Nature's  voice, 
Unlocka  her  precious  store. 
And  mount  and  vale  and  plain  rejoice 
To  greet  the  genial  hour. 

"The  purling  stream,  no  longer  bound 
In  Winter's  icy  chain. 
Sparkles  beneath  the  sunny  ray, 
And  freely  flows  again." 

David  Paul  Brown. 


m 


AMERICAN    ANOLBR'B    BOOK. 


The  spring  fishing  (tpens  immediately  with  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice 
in  the  lakes,  which  usually  takes  place  from  the  middle  of  April  to  the 
10th  of  May,  according  to  the  season.  About  the  10th  of  June  that 
phlebotomizing  pest  the  "  black  fly"  makes  its  appearance,  driving  all 
sensible  anglers  from  the  streams,  and  devouring,  by  slow  and  painful 
tortures,  all  the  fools  who  persistently  remain.  These  minute  vm  ipires 
continue  in  full  possession  of  the  woods  and  waters  till  about  the  ist  of 
August,  when  they  disappear  as  suddenly  as  they  came. 

During  the  hot  weather  of  July  and  August  the  fish  betake  themselves 
to  the  deep  and  cool  bottoms  of  the  lakes,  and  are  not  easily  lured  to  the 
surface  from  these  refreshing  asylums.  About  the  1st  of  September,  the 
water  being  lowered  in  temperature,  the  Trout  begin  to  abandon  their 
deep  abodes,  and  are  once  more  found  in  the  pools  and  eddies  of  the 
various  tributaries  of  the  lakes. 

Trolling  over  the  lakes  from  a  skiff  with  the  ordinary  spoon  or  squid 
tackle,  is  much  practised  in  these  waters  ;  and  at  times,  when  the  wind 
and  temperature  are  favorable,  many  fine  fish  are  taken. 


Sportsmen  who  visited  the  Adirondacks,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Long  Lake,  last  summer,  speak  with  enthusiasm  of  the  deer  and 
•  trout  in  that  vicinity.  A  little  settlement  has  sprung  up  at  the  lower 
end  of  that  beaullful  sheet  of  water,  and  is  called  "  Long  Lake." 
It  contains  a  store,  a  saw-mill,  and  a  post-office ;  and  is  a  good  point 
from  which  to  take  a  departure  further  into  that  wilderness  of  lake- 
lets and  forests.  It  is  easily  accessible  from  Fort  Edward,  on  the 
Saratoga  and  Whitehall  Railroad.  The  distance  is  about  seventy 
miles,  more  than  half  of  which  is  by  stage,  and  the  remainder  in  a 
good  spring-wagon. 

Parties  going  to  the  Adirondacks  by  this  route,  could  return  by 
way  of  Raquette  River  and  Saranak  Lake  to  Martin's,  and  thence 
by  way  of  Keeseville  to  Port  Kent,  on  Lake  Champlain.  The 
excursion  could  be  easily  performed  with  ladies  in  company. 

One  of  the  most  substantial  men  at  the  little  village  of  Long  Lake 
is  Mitchell  Sebattis,  one  of  the  few  Indians  remaining  of  the  tribe 
of  St.  Francis.     He  is  a  son  of  an  Indian  of  some  note,  "  Captain 


INLAND   TROUT    FISHING. 


669 


Mke  Ch.„pl.,„  du„Dg  th.  Wt  w.r  .ith  Great  Britain      H„,h  ,  .i 
and  «,a  were  guide,  t„  Mr  He.dle,  i„  I.-         ,  ^^ 

roPdach ;  .„d  Mitchell  „d  W    J,7  jl  "  "'■'"•"°°'  '"  "■«  *<"- 
*  J         .  "'  John,  8till  act  as  BuidflH  t^  li»« 

ter«  aud  anglers.     During  the  mouth  of  March  ^865/  1 

Christians  at  Long  Lake  selected  S<,K  .*  ^       ^      "'  ^"^ 

o„^  P  •      ...    ^  ^  '"""®'   accoropan  ed    by   his  «nn 

and  from  the  fact  of  beine  an  TnHi«n  *  j  ^  ' 

e...rpH.  tha„ . ...  r:^ircz:rzT'': "- 

cessful.     He  t.,IH  «,«.•!.•        •  ga'ned,  and  was  quite  sue- 

Christi  niz?som    Tf  t^e     1^7^'  ''''  ''  ^'^  ''«'^  ^^^  *«> 
cities  and  L  "  ^'"^'""''  ^^^  ««*"«  fr««>  the  large 

cities,  and  who  were  given  to  cureing  and  swearing.  *n^  fl  i,-  ! 

port  ef  Ih    e„™,„g  ,„„„er,  .„d  some  even  endeavoring  to  "ftl 

::f':::r:i::;r:iS^^^^^^^^^^^ 

length.  '  "  ''•^^*  *'"'««^°"'  I  quote  it  at 

TROUT-FISHING. 
The  month  of  March  wakps  .,,.  *i,»      •  -^     „ 

-".aind..  and  ^.  Jl7  Zl  IZ     h""'""'  "  "  ^""' 
Trout-fishing.    i<,„.  ,,,     .    "  ""^^  preparing  for  the 


670 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


beauties  of  nature  above  water,  and  not  in  the  abundance  or  voriicity  of 
fish  under  water.  A  great  many  people  imagine  that  "  to  go  a-fishing" 
meaiiH  to  go  and  catch  fish  ;  or  to  try  it.  No  Huch  thing.  #  *  « 
Wliat  sport,  indeed,  is  there  in  angling  in  a  tub,  or  shooting  in  a  barn- 
yard ?  We  do  not  undervalue  the  excitement  of  taking  fish  when  the  size 
and  spirit  of  the  captive  bring  coolness  and  skill  into  full  action.  But  we 
are  speaking  now  of  American  Trout-fishing  as  it  is  generally  found,  when 
the  day's  sport  produces  seldom  a  fish  weighing  over  two  or  three  pounds, 
and,  except  in  a  few  localities,  seldom  a  fish  of  a  pound.  March  fishing 
is  really  but  poor  sport,  and,  except  for  g(K)d  inns,  fine  cooking,  and  the 
pleasant  evenings  by  the  fireside,  we  doubt  whether  a  tenth  part  of  those 
who  go  a-fishing  in  March  could  be  induced  to  undertake  it.  But  these 
accompaniments  are  not  the  special  accessories  of  the  Troutrfishing.  On 
the  contrary,  they  belong  rather  to  the  city,  and  may  be  had  without  wet 
feet,  or  a  day  in  a  chilly  March  wind. 

May  is  the  pleasantcst  and  most  profitable  month  for  Trout-fishing  in 
this  country.  The  mysteries  of  the  American  forest  begin  to  unfold  and 
develop  then,  while  nature  commences  to  hide  with  leaves  the  skeleton 
which  winter  has  exhibited.  Wild-flowers  abound.  Winds  hold  new  and 
not  unmusical  conversations  with  young  leaves.  The  sharp  whistle  of  the 
earlier  months  around  the  branches,  changes  to  the  softer  rustle  and 
whisper  of  summer.  The  flow  of  the  streams  is  more  settled.  The  water 
is  clearer.  The  pools  look  black  and  deep,  not  milky  and  shallow.  The 
margins  are  green,  with  bright  spots  of  blue  and  white  where  liverwort 
and  anemone  blossoms  shine  out.  It  is  not  strange  to  see  a  man  who  has 
heavy  responsibility  on  his  shoulders,  throw  it  off  in  May  to  go  Trout^ 
fishing.  A  long  walk  by  a  forest  stream  is  then  a  long  dream — rather  a 
reality  of  beauty.  Health  and  happiness  are  in  the  air.  The  sky  is  as 
full  of  glory  as  the  sea  of  water.  It  overflows,  and  he  who  gives  his  heart 
to  the  surrounding  influences  will  receive  of  that  overflow.  There  is  no 
sentiment  about  it.  It  is  reality.  It  tells  in  bone  and  muscle  and  sinew, 
but  it  tolls  more  plainly  in  the  mind,  and  proves  its  beneficent  effects  in 
the  new  life,  new  thought,  new  spring  which  it  gives  to  the  intellectual 
organs.  We  respectfully  recommend  him  who  is  desirous  of  trying  the 
experiment,  to  postpone  his  effort  until  May,  and  then  go  into  the  Ameri- 
can forest,  and  study  its  magnificence. 


STRIPED    BASS    FISHING. 

Jm  H!::;:tn;,r  "■" " "- ""'""'  °'  •" '-"  ^«"^"'  •« 

_^^^ -^        .long  the  CO...  e««.„d  „f  .k«  p,„„^,^   ,^^,  ^  ^.^^   .^ 
My  dear  Old  Piacator,  * 

'««  di.«pp.»r.,  ,h„„  B,h  .„  f„„„,j  27""'  *•  -P-'-B  open,  .nd  th. 
"."..lime.  .tand.  ,-„  ,^„  „„  J^"  "P'*""  "'  '»'«•  "'"te  n,.gg„,  „hieh 

Sb»k»  of  „„  „  Jet  fa,  .  T"  °"  """°'  ■"""«">•  ""'  »'«.  for 
Oenccwith  .he  ..hZlfr  h.  ".'""''•"■"-«'■  "»'  "-eorone.  p,.,  .„. 
•ngler  of  hi.  hook,  '  "  """'  ""^  ^°"'  •""  "Moving  ,h, 

*  I  once  saw  a  Shark  taknn  «if  v^  '  " 

wei«h  over  a  thousand  pou:  o„  oZ'T'. "'  ''"  ""'^*''  «'"''  -""-<>  '^ 

a  half  feet  long,  were  attached  io  the  Zerbv  "■"f^'"^^"''"'  «'>-•"'.  -^h  two  and 
of  their  jaw,  were  well  ab.e  to  take  eJre  of  7  ?"' ^"''^'"« '"™ '^^^ ''-"«'•> 
throwing  out  a  large  hook  baited  wihM,  7"      "     ''"''  '''''  '^  ""'«''  ^-^ 

^"'^  ^-'  --  --  -  -w  r  r.:;;x  ^f  :it::  "r '  -^  '^' 

(671) 


"I 


672 


AMERICAN   ANGLRR'S    BOOK. 


U* 


In  the  month  of  May,  fish  of  six  or  eight  pounds  show  themselves,  and 
reappear  towards  the  Ist  of  October,  and  are  taken  in  nets  and  by  rod 
and  line.  The  months  of  July  and  August  are  considered  the  best 
time  for  the  angler,  as  the  run  of  fish  is  then  much  larger,  the  weather 
pleasant,  and  the  water  so  warm,  that  a  ducking  from  a  heavy  sea,  when 
fishing  from  the  rocks,  not  chilling  enough  to  force  one  to  abandon  the 
sport.  The  largest  fish  nre  generally  taken  in  the  latter  part  of  August 
and  early  in  September.  I  saw  two  taken  last  August  with  the  rod,  which 
weighed  over  sixty  pounds  each.  A  lively  fish  of  eighteen  or  twenty 
pounds,  though,  will  try  the  tackle  and  the  skill  of  the  angler  more  than 
one  of  fifty  pounds— both,  however,  require  nerve  and  readiness  in  playing 
and  landing  them. 

Tackle.— As  far  as  my  own  experience  goes,  I  would  advise  the  tyro  at 
first  to  use  a  hand-line.  He  will  find,  however,  after  he  gains  confidence 
in  handling  his  fish,  and  before  the  summer  is  over,  that  the  use  of  the 
rod  and  reel  is  a  much  better  and  certainly  a  more  artistic  way  of  fishing. 
The  hand-line  should  be  about  two  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  not  too 
thick,  or  the  wind  will  interfere  with  casting  it.  Have  a  thick  woollen 
finger  and  thumb  stall,  which  should  be  fastened  at  the  wrist,  for  the 
friction  of  the  line,  when  passing  through  the  fingers,  will  soon  disable 

the  fisher. 

Rod.— Let  me  give  you  a  few  hints  how  to  select  it.  Most  rods  are 
made  in  three  pieces ;  but  in  ordering  or  making  one  have  it  of  two. 
The  length  from  butt  to  tip  nine  feet,  not  an  inch  more.  The  ferules  of 
German  silver,  as  salt  water  corrodes  brass,  and  the  latter  is  difficult  to 
keep  clean.  Have  one  guide  on  each  piece ;  let  them  be  large  enough  for 
six  times  the  size  of  the  line  to  pass  through,  so  as  to  prevent  friction ;  the 
lower  one  should  be  placed  eight  inches  below  the  ferule  and  another  midway 
of  the  tip.  The  end  of  the  tip  is  frequently  mouthed  with  agate,  though 
the  free  use  of  emery  paper  will  keep  the  mouth  perfectly  smooth.  The 
distance  from  the  butt  end  to  the  reel-keeper  should  be  sixteen  inches,  and 
the  intervening  space  wrapped  with  fine  twine,  so  as  to  give  a  good  grasp 
for  the  hand.  Before  casting,  I  would  aclvise  tying  the  shank  of  the 
reel  to  the  rod  with  thick  ribbon,  to  prevent  itn  becoming  loose  and  flying 
off  when  casting. 

The  Reel,  of  course,  should  be  an  easy  running  multiplier,  with  a 
balance  handle,  and  large  enough  to  hold  four  hundred  feet  of  line. 

X,-„e«,_Baii8-fisher8  differ  in  the  selection  of  their  lines.    Some  have  a 
preference  for  silk,  while  others  are  satisfied  with  linen  or  India  sea-grass, 


STRIPED   BASS    FISHING. 


673 


.  post  or  tree  in  .„  „„„  fi,,.  '^  j°  ""  f'°"'°K  -""er :  tie  „„,  e„d  to 

"•Ik  to  ,h.  „(,,„  „^,  „.  J    "  °'  *"■  »'  "°».  P""  tightlj,  .ad 
»1  tied,  and  tr.i,  it  ^17.  °"°        °"''""'  •-'  "■"'>"»"■<' 

«■»  with  .  ™g  »i„Id  ;^^;'t'.        '"'  "  ""'  -'"■  ^«»'"«.  "■i 
"»  "Ifjiog  part  of  tlii.  L„.  "  ""'  ""'"'"  »  "-fworable 

-  -et,;:.  Jj-:ir,:7  tt"  '"•'"- ''™° «-  - 

oil.  ..  .ilk  trolling  „,  s7"!  ;        ""^  """"'  '"™'  •«  •»«l'«d  io  lin.eed 
limerick,  .re  glerZ  !,.;  7  f'"  ""  "'""  "^  "■'  '«»''  '»  l"  ""e^ 

-ke,  know,  .t  N.rr.;^^iT;„ ;;;": '  "7,""'  °'  ^--k 

«"d  of  tlie  ,l,.„k,  or  ,L  .      "  ,  °-  '7'  "  ««"">"!  P'eferrcd.    The 

««...»«.,  ror  it  e^Jthe   l:  wt  ^  f^  "'  ""  '■°°''  *»"'-  "»'  "» 

'  would  ,ee„„„end  g.1™  1  h    i     "^  V"' ''°  """'"■  "«"  ""«>  °f- 
-ilj  -ee„  i.  the  water     TV  ,"'  T  "'"'  ""  ""'  ""■  '"^  »«  "»' 

-tore,  i.  New  yTIZ''  "°  "'  ''°'  "'  ''°°"''''-  -^  «'-»'  'aekl. 

»««>on',  8,hi„,     Th.  u^i  "•"  ''°°'"  >'«'  "ot  too  nan,  for  . 

"ood.  .re  .LJll^tZZ      T-""  °°  ''"-•-"     0- 
S^»on,..twietedwi„ho,::CBar  "'"""'"'  '™  ^""-""^ 

on  the  hook ;  the  re™,  ndet  '  '    a„r  r'         """  ""'  ''""  " 

Manhaden  or  Bonv  fi,h  ..  ,,.7        '  '™°  "  ^  ""■«"'  ">=  A"!-- 

no.r  the  .„rf.ee,  a'd    .'.  eli  '  7d7°"°'r  ""'^'  "™  '"  -•»'» 
.«d  their  whereaLt.  beLTh 'ik    '"""«""'■'«'  ^J  >'"■"  "ddi-b  tint; 
Thee.  «  are  of  Vh"   ,  e    fn'  f     7"'  f'  ""°"""  "« '•'«'°  '"  °«" 
Horrin.  .„d  e.nt.i„  ItZ'T^TVZ^jT  7  ""'-" 
cut  from  each  side  of  th«  >.„  ^,u        /  ^^  ^'""  ^'''''  »  «"ce  is 

-  -P  ..d  thrown  into  .he  ,e.  and  the  o1,  e^ditLrit  X'tiXd" 


674 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


out  several  hundred  yards  by  the  current,  Bass  and  other  large  fish  are 
thus  attracted  and  follow  the  strong  scent  towards  the  shore,  and  if  on  the 
feed,  do  not  leave  until  their  numbers  are  considerably  lessened  by  the 

angler. 

Casting.-Bdore  I  advert  to  the  "  mode  peculiar,"  as  you  call  it,  let  me 
describe  casting  with  the  hand-line.  The  preparatory  evolution  in  this 
vay  of  fishing  is  to  coil  your  line  at  your  side ;  then  taking  your  position 
not  quite  facing  the  water  but  rather  obliquely,  seize  the  line  between 
your  forefinger  and  thumb,  about  five  feet  above  the  hook,  whirl  it  above 
your  head  not  quite  horizontally,  until  you  give  it  suf&cient  impetus,  and 
let  it  go  as  it  comes  nearly  in  front.  The  weight  of  the  bait  will  carry 
the  line  out;  no  lead  or  dipsey  is  required,  in  fact,  either  of  them  is 
objectionable,  as  it  would  sink  the  hook  too  much,  and  entangle  it  m  the 
sea-weed.    Now  let  me  give  you  a  lesson  on 

Casting  with  the  i?od.-You  must  bear  in  mind  that  in  most  cases  your 
stand  is  on  a  rock,  and  as  the  sea  runs  high  it  is  frequently  necessary  to 
protect  yourself  with  an  oil-cloth  suit,  and  always  to  have  a  secure  foot- 
hold,  to  insure  that  you  are  not  knocked  off  your  "pins"  by  some  incom- 
ing wave.  i.  ,.    V        A 
A  Trout-fisher  has  his  enemies  in  his  rear  in  the  shape  of  limbs  and 
bushes,  but  a  Bass-fisher  has  his  opponents  to  contend  with  in  his  front, 
as  the  wind  and  weather,  the  sea-weed,  or  his  line  overrunning  itself,  or 
becoming  entangled  from  being  kinky,  or  from  being  wodnd  unevenly  on 
the  barrel  of  the  reel,  when  it  stops  short  with  a  jerk  and  sometimes 
comes  back  in  his  face.    To  avoid  these  contingencies  and  acquire  the 
knack  of  doing  the  thing  properly,  I  would  advise  the  tyro  to  make  his 
first  -^ssay  on  an  open  flat  piece  of  ground;  winding  his  line  even  and 
level  on  his  reel.     He  should  not  have  more  than  a  half  yard  remaining 
beyond  the  tip  of  his  rod,  and  to  the  end  of  his  line  he  should  tie  a 
weight  or  stone  of  four  ounces.    Then  putting  the  left  foot  foremost  and 
standing  sideways  to  the  direction  in  which  you  intend  to  cast,  seize  your 
rod  with  your  left  hand  by  the  extreme  butt  end,  the  thumb  of  your  right 
pressing  on  the  barrel  of  the  reel.     Now  swing  your  rod  horizontally 
behind,  and  bring  it  around  to  your  front  with  a  bold  cast,  raising  your 
thumb  from  the  barrel  as  it  comes  nearly  in  front.-There  goes  your 
counterfeit  bait!  but  not  ns  far,  nor  exactly  in  the  direction  you  intended 
it -Try  it  again-winding  the  line  evenly  on  your  reel,  and  guiding  it 
with  the  thumb  and  forefinger  of  your  left  hand,  which  is  held  about 
four  inches  in  front  of  the  reel,  and  not  allowing  the  line  to  overlap. 


.  '"^'^^^  «^«S   PISHI^a.  sc- 

once more,  now-that  is  better  •  hnf  .».     • 

tJ-^b  on  the  barrel  of  ,ou     eel  t    n        '"*"*  ^'^  ^'^'^  ^^"«  ^^'^P  ^our 
Ji^e  be,i„„er  .a,  J.  .,  ^i:    ^  1  rirj  "T  ^""'^^"^  -' 
take  a  course  too  much  to  the  nVht  n        .  '"^''  *^''*  ^'^  ""«  «ay 

-"  -ing  too  much  to  thetft  '  ^iTr  '  '™"  '^^  "«^*  «'^«'  "-*  it 
on  the  barrel  of  the  reel  an  instan^  ,  "rTh?  ^  'l'  '""°^  ^'«  '^-»' 
J^ou  have  mastered  the  rudiments  and  tl  ''"''•    ''^^P  «»  -^" 

«nd  put  on  a  hook  and  a  bait     ^Tn  ^'  ^^  *'^  ^''^  «^  *'-  -^ter 

oa^t,  let  your  bait  sink  about  a  Tot  T  ""  ''"'"  '"'''^  ""^  "^^^^  ^^ur 
^-  even  and  level  on  the  Z::\  ZiVl  ''''  '^^  ^^^^"^  ^he 
get  a  rise,  the  line  will  immedia telv  r  kT  !  '^'■'"*''''  ^'^^^^  ^ou 
the  hook  in  the  fish's  .outh  teV  't T  n  ''"  ^^"'^  ^''^'P^^'  ^  ^"^^a 
''"t  I  win  say  that  while  you  mus  not  hi  d  '"  '""  '^  '^""^  ^°"^  ^«'^' 
keep  a  taut  line,  and  if  you  Te  L,  u""  *^  ''^^''  ^«»  ^^^'^  -er 

fook,  bait,  j„„,  |,<„j,    ^j  seta  yc.r  bail,  ,e»„e,  ;^o„r  „a„d  „, 

"«»..  oompanioa  who  mav  be  within    ."-^     °°'  '"""''"•  J-"  Wto  o, 

-k  b,  the  b»,k  of  a  Ba^ir:  r'i .  ::^  ?  ••-''  -« ^-  -' 

«waj  mj  wm<lpip_.„d  ,,,  «  "  »"f  f"«  enough  „  carry 

««  to  be  in.    So  ,o„  ,hon,d  alw^a  havlr,  '    .7  """  "°  """'—" 

«.».  .I.e  .po„  i.  1  0.0!.'™    72°  \  ™  "  "  ^  '"-  "  '"'S 

-e  «.h.,  .„,  h.  haul ,:::':,  rirrr  °"r-  ^'■"  "• 

panion  lake,  hi,  p|,ce,  while  the  «„.  „7  1,  '"•  "''  "■"  I"!'  "■»■ 
«-  .  change  the  p..i.i„:  "^  ^^.'^  ";^  "*";»•  '.  «  weU  «e- 
'he  right  or  the  ,»,,,  „  ^^  '""  k'  """"^  *>"  J-""' "'ber  .id,, 

*«ug  the  hand,  wearie.  .he  Z  e^Id^;;  -""'  """"S  wi-hou. 

Jnese      baiters"  t^     h       t  u  "sv- 

and  .on,e  of  .h,n,',„«,  "f  ™      21"""*";°"  ''"''°"°"'  Pe™nage,, 

-He. ..  «„o,o  b1,„,.  „i°:::  r::?;:? ::-™« --^  ^-n  -^  ^ig  l: 

-.-,de,..d,heLp:::-',tr;c:r- 


H-" 


676 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


by  the  seaside  all  night  to  secure  it  for  you  next  day,  and  sees  that  no  one 
fishes  near  enough  to  draw  your  fish  away.     He  wakes  you  up  at  three  in 
the  morning,  tells  you  that  is  the  best  time  for  fishing,  takes  you  to  his 
favorite  rook,  tells  you  there  is  a  whirl,  Bass  rising,  that  there  are  plenty 
offish.    You  cast— your  imagination  paints  a  fifty-pounder  at  the  end  of 
your  line— you  jerk,  and  find  you  are  fast  to  the  seaweed.    You  reel  in 
carefully,  disengage  your  book,  and   cast    again,  seventy-five  feet  if 
you  can,  and  let  your  bait  sink  a  foot  or  so,  and  commence  reeling  in 
slowly  again,  when  all  at  once  your  line  straightens  and  you  have  him 
sure  enough.-Now  Uncle  Billy's  time  has  come.    "  Give  him  line,"  sings 
out  the  old  man ;  "  now  hold  him  a  little  ;  not  too  tight ;  now  ease  him  off: 
I  tell  you  he's  a  sixty-pounder  I    Look  out,  or  you'll  lose  liim,  if  you  hold 
him  BO  tight !    Give  him  line  1    Keep  him  away  from  that  rock  1    That's 
right-  now  give  him  line-more  line  1"     "  How  can  I,"  says  the  excited 
angl«r,  "  don't  you  see  my  line  is  foul  on  my  reel  ?"     "  The  devil  it  is  I" 
says  Uncle  Billy,  adding  a  few  more  exclamations  in  language  not  polite. 
"Then  there  goes  your  line,  and  there  goes  the  fish  ;  I  knew  you  would 
lose  him.    That  fish  weighed  sixty-five  pounds,  every  ounce  of  it."    Sadly 
you  wind  up  your  broken  line,  ruminating  on  the  perfect  knowledge  these 
baiteri  have  of  the  exact  weight  of  every  large  fish  the  angler  loses-they 
have  a  method  of  weighing  them  under  water  pecuUarly  their  own. 
As  I  have  spun  my  yarn  and  wound  in  my  line,  I'll  "knock  off,"  and 

■ubscribe  myself,  ■«■        *    i- 

'  Yours  truly, 

CliEH. 


PISH   BREEDING. 


"""««  AND  ABTlncUL  BREEDING  OF  TKOUT 

Amono  the  friends  tr,  r^u 

pleasant,  s„„„er  h„„,e  inZ™  '  "  "  ^'°*°'"'  "''»  '«'»  • 

i-S  •»  know  .ha.  .„■,    „  e  f    7.     ™°"''  "^  ^"'-     "  »  *'»'">■ 

and  after  u...^l^,CC     '"■■.'"""«■■"  °°»*'«^'e  o^pease. 

-ipi.«c,,  .He  f„,Wi     ";«;■'  r.;;-'  «  .e.  i„  i, 

a     oriet  ot  the  case"  will  show. 

^'"''""'nd  Sirficiure  of  the  Ponds -Th.       .      • 
sandstone  formations,  from  the  side  of /h  n  ?       ''  *"'''"'  ^™'"  ""'^^^ 
feet,  at  two  points,  near  th^  onhl' '^^ 

stream  of  about  2J  inches  diameter.  anllZt 'T  t'"'  '''^'"^  ^ 
of  only  a  few  feet.  The  watPr  J«  .  T  ,  ^  ^  P""'''  ''^  "  "^'^tance 
ponds  throughout  the  ^  J:^:!::^^^^^^^^  t?  ^''«  ^-P-ature  in  the 

-affected  in  volume  i  an^  p 2  ^^  e".  V"  ''^  '"'^•'  ^"'  ^^^"« 
rain.  ^  Perceptible  extent  by  seasons  of  drouth  or 

One  of  the  springs,  affording  a  stream  of  about  oi ,.  o  ■     ,     . 
ter,  IS  introduced  into  a  filter.   ,.y  which    ttash      /  "     ''  "  '"""" 
water  any  possible  impurities:  frll,  gl  JTh      '      ""  '''''  '"™  ^'^^ 
separate  streams  of  equal  size  tZ    l\  "^'"^  ''  ^-^^^^  '°  ^^''-ee 

— ^-long.  c:Vh^^^^n^^^^^^^  "^^-^'^^ 

«  co,r„  rough  b„ildi„,  ,„  „,„,        .'      /"'•  "'"'''■  ""  ™ve«d  »ilh 
«p.™.or  .n  ..o™,„ea.he^    ^.2°:      T'"'""  ""  ""'"'  "" 

-^-  A.  .hu  p.. .,,  „.::■:.:;,':::::  ^ """"'  °^"'" 

ihe  first  pond  is  about  18  feet  widp  qn  <•    /i 

w,de,  30  feet  long,  and  varying  in  depth 

(677) 


678 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


from  18  inches  at  the  upper  to  3  feet  at  the  lower  end.  It  is  plastered  on 
the  bottom  and  sides  with  water-lime,  is  water-tight,  and  is  intended  as 
the  abode  of  the  small  fry  for  the  first  year  of  their  aqueous  life.  Here,  all 
being  of  the  same  age  and  size,  or  very  nearly  so,  of  course  they  cannot  prey 
upon  each  other:  and  here  they  are  fed  and  maintained  and  domesticated, 
grow  and  thrive,  until,  at  the  end  of  the  year,  they  are  fitted  to  move  in  a 
larger  sphere,  into  which  they  are  introduced  through  a  hole  in  the  wall 
at  the  lower  end  of  the  first  pond,  by  removing  the  wire  gauze  that  covers 
it,  and  which,  except  when  removed  for  this  purpose,  is  kept  there  for  a 
reason  already  stated.  Through  this  hole  the  water  runs  throughout  the 
year  in  a  steady  stream  of  from  2}  to  3  inches  in  diameter,  and,  falling 
about  12  inches,  enters  the  second  pond. 

The  second  pond,  which  is  made  like  the  first,  is  about  20  feet  wide  and 
60  feet  long,  and  the  water  in  it  varies  in  depth  from  about  3  feet  at  the 
upper  to  6  or  7  feet  at  the  lower  end,  and  is  intended  as  the  abiding-place 
of  the  fish  during  their  second  year;  and  also  as  one  of  the  points  at  which 
the  process  of  spawning  is  conducted.  From  this  (the  second)  pond  the 
water  is  conducted  through  a  hole  in  the  wall  at  the  lower  end,  guarded 
witli  wire  gauze  as  in  the  other  instances,  and,  falling  about  two  feet, 
enters  the  third  pond. 

The  third  pond  is  nearly  circular  in  shape,  and  near  200  feet  in  diame- 
ter, and  is  situated  on  the  side  of  a  hill.  On  the  upper,  or  hill  side,  the 
water  runs  against  the  natural  bank,  and  on  the  lower  side  is  supported 
by  walls  of  heavy  masonry.  These  walls  are  about  10  feet  thick  at  the 
bottom  and  4  at  the  top,  forming  on  the  top  a  stone  walk  or  pavement 
throughout  the  circuit  of  the  walls.  The  walls  are  made  in  two  parallel 
sections,  separated  by  a  cavity  of  two  inches,  which  was  filled  with  liquid 
cement  to  render  them  water-tight.  They  are  at  the  highest  point  about 
40  feet  high  and  surrounded  by  a  heavy  earth  embankment,  rising  nearly 
to  the  top  of  the  walls,  the  slopes  of  which  are  intended  to  be  decorated 
with  shrubbery.  The  walls,  on  the  inside,  are  further  supported  by  a 
gravel  embankment,  reaching  nearly  to  the  surface  of  the  water  and 
sloping  to  the  centre  of  the  pond,  where  the  water  is  about  35  feet  deep. 
The  other  spring,  before  referred  to,  issues  directly  into  this  pond,  at  the 
surface  of  the  water.  The  outlet  of  this  pond  is  through  a  shaft  built  in 
the  wall,  where  the  column  of  water  is  about  5  inches  in  diameter,  falling 
about  35  feet,  and  afiFording  power  to  propel  a  stream  of  water  of  about 
1  or  2  inches,  for  domestic  and  ornamental  purposes,  to  the  top  of  the  hill 


FISH   BREBDINO. 


«"  l».ted  lb,  sp.wning.b„d,     ,l.„  ■~"''  ""''  "-W  pond. 

™i««  .rough.,  fte  boLTo  Th       r„""  *"".  ^"■''  -P«""y. 
pond.  «,.„,„]„.,    Both  the  «»?  T  "'^'  "  """'"»"«'  '"to  Ih, 

in«-buildi„g  already  ^,4^^^^  "»  •"'  «""•  "  -  the  c.  of  the  hatoh- 

oo-nbor.  She  i.  ,tu,nm  hv  th,  ll  ,^  T  '  "  '"""  '"'  »f  »- 
"^  .he  eg^dep«,.„^  ,  h«e^  Tl^"  Z  T'''  "  """'"'«-• 
■»'«..»..  AtSr.ttheJ.h.,e,ee„emf,T  "  ''""°"=*'  "^aiMt 

•"«»Oed  b,  the  male.)  from  thH"  7  f   *  '°  *""■"'  '"■»  '««'««  W"g 

«o«  .«,  .haUow  -tor       t  f,:;:::^'  7,'-"-^°-    ^-"ecoodi. 

'8™™l)  which  thejr  ca.  readily  Zve^d  'CT"'  '"''  »  ""•"■'I 
"-J  coacoal  the  impregnated  a  "37  "  ""  "'^  "^  '»™'  "P 
«di.,o„,  are  to  be  fof.d  in  Ipi"  "^  "^  *"  °"^«"'"''  "■«.  .he,e 
'ho  joint  labor  of  U,.  male  aL  f       ,  "''  ""*  '"  "'™"'™».  "j 

;e .... .« depo.ited  I' iriri;:;;!:::?" '° '"  -«■• 

1op«..t.  The.  the  water  i,  agit.,ej  ^^  '  °  ""  '"^'  "  'J'*"  over  the 
".b,  »  „  to  etec.  a  perfect  L  ^"^ti!  '  r"""""  °'  "■"°''  °'  "" 
«">™l  i,  ih^n  gathered  „..r  tho^T  '««'  '  "">  """"-'iing 

female,  a»»„^.i„,  ^  ^  '       >» V"  "  *"  "°""  "■'  <"^>»*.  -^  "bf 
»"J,  r..»r„.  iatc  the  deep  waC  tl  rl'  .t'"""*'  """  •""■  "'  """- 

.  ...0  at  the  lower  e.d  i.  le  tZ^^Z  Zt'^  *Vf-"'°«-'-.b, 
relieved  of  all  further  d«tv     nlT       .       i       '  °'°'°  '■"™"'".  "« 

b.  wn.  and  contain,  a  fair  pLrJ^  o"  e:b°.:r  ,;'  """'  "-"^ 
provided  a  smaller  vessel  with  i.L  .         u  *""«  previously 

P«y,  he  the.  ta-e,  ZZCZZtT:  '""""  '""°'"  ~"- 

".."be gill,  .„,,e„,^ „„^ ,^^ .::, 'I  •*':■'  ^;--^'-™ 

vessel,  tail  downwards,  with  the 


If 


080 


AMiiRICAN    ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


Other  hand,  by  a  gentle  pressure  downwards,  exudes  the  eggs,  which  fall 
into  the  shallow  water  in  the  vessel,  and  the  fish  is  then  returned  to  the 
pond,  that  its  remaining  ova  or  milt  may  also  become  sufficiently  mature 
to  have  the  operation  repeated  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.    Pausing  here, 
the  observer  will  perceive  that  the  egg  is  nearly  but  not  quite  filled  with 
a  yolk,  the  residue  consisting  of  an  air-chamber  which,  on  the  sinking  of 
the  egg  in  the  water,  by  reason  of  the  greater  gravity  of  the  yolk,  is 
uppermost,  and  in  the  shell  of  the  egg  covering  this  cavity  there  is  barely 
perceptible,  with  the  aid  of  a  glass,  a  small  orifice  or  hole.    Resuming  the 
process,  the  operator  takes  from  the  vsssel  containing  the  fish,  the  males 
already  caught  for  that  purpose,  and,  by  manipulation  like  that  applied 
to  the  female,  exudes  the  milt.    The  milt,  which  has  about  the  color  and 
consistence  of  cow's  milk,  flows  into  the  water  containing  the  ecrgs.    The 
water  is  then  greatly  agitated,  and,  by  the  aid  of  a  glass,  innumerable 
threads  or  filaments,  projecting  themselves  from  the  mass  of  the  milt,  are 
seen  trembling  and  oscillating  in  the  water,  which,  as  the  water  settles 
down,  are  observed  to  find  their  way  to  and  into  the  air-chambers  of  the 
eggs,  through  the  little  orifices  already  described.* 

Incubation.— 'The  vessel  containing  the  eggs,  having  been  allowed  to 
remain  for  a  few  minutes,  to  make  sure  of  perfect  impregnation,  is  taken 
to  the  hatching-troughs  above,  into  which  the  eggs  are  transferred,  where 
they  remain  during  the  period  of  incubation.     They  are  gently  spread 
over  the  gravel  in  the  bottom  of  the  hatching-troughs,  and  are  kept  in 
contact  with  the  water  which  flows  in  a  gentle  current  over  them.    In  the 
course  of  a  week  or  ten  days,  perhaps  a  few  of  the  eggs  will  be  observed 
to  have  turned  from  a  blackish  salmon  to  a  whitish  color.    This  indicates 
that  perfect  impregnation  has  not  taken  place,  and  that  the  egg  is  decay- 
ing ;  and  with  forceps  provided  for  that  purpose,  it  is  simply  removed  from 
the  trough.     Perhaps,  too,  some  of  the  eggs  will  be  found  to  have  turned 
to  a  rusty  brown  color.  This  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  presence  of  a  species 
of  fungus,  called  byssus,  taken  up,  doubtless,  from  the  water.  It  is  destruc- 
tive of  the  life  of  the  egg,  and  as  it  grows  and  propagates  itself  (as  sup- 
posed), entire  safety  can  only  be  attained  by  sacrificing  every  egg  in 
contact  with  it.    These  are  the  principal  accidents  to  be  looked  for  and 
guarded  against  during  the  process  of  incubation  :  otherwise  the  piscicul- 
turer,  with  even  less  care  and  skill  than  are  required  to  operate  the 


♦  This  phenomenon,  if  it  has  ever  been  observed  by  European  experimenters,  I 
have  never  seen  recorded.  Some  remarks  by  a  brother  angler,  bearing  on  the 
discovery,  will  be  found  at  the  end  of  this  article. 


PISH    BREEDING. 


681 


In  a  little  whilo  n  email  black  (.not  will  i,»  ■     . 

impregnation  •  thi,  ™d„.ll  P«»..vod,  at  the  point  of 

1.  rteetea,  0^  1  r;;:: ;  I'tr  .^r  •  :'■" '"-  "-•  -^^ 

fii^ell  is  brnlcfin  „«^  ^u  ^"^^^^^  '*  completed  the 

i.  i.  t^  IWe  .     """  ""  °"  "-""'  '""••  fo""  -•»  'h.  ...n,.nt  in  which 

».rr:i;f :;:::/:;:--:;:7 --^  p»-«»  or  .h.  ,o.  i. 

.n.il  it  i.  eomplete,^  ...olTar't  rne'X  ".  *  ^ft  "■'"''•'' 

resides  for  a  year  when  it  i.  .A    :.7  ^  *"*  P^"'''  '"^'^ere  it 

for  a  yea.    .lin'/tt  Vr ^  t  T^  '''''I  ^^  -^''^  *^- 
livers  of  animals,  finely  hashed  and  thr  "'".^  ''"*'  ^""^«'  "'^^ 

learn  to  be  fed.  and  to  expect  the  r  T"  ^''^  -'^*--     They  soon 

_________1__12!!!!!^^^^^  '  ""^  ^^"«*  *»>«  food  is 

eel  ^:^::z::::i'fz::::T  *'t  ^-"^  -^  -  -„,■:;::;:;:: 

can  also  propaga.e  „a!„  ally'^n  tj      L      ""l  .'  ""'"""  ""'•'"'"^'  ''»'"«  "-ey 

by  thorn.  "■*  '"«"  ''«'''  ""^y  "e  liable  to  bo  dovourod 

1 1  have  heard  it  stated,  thoutrli  r  no.,     ^ 
that  the  shoU  or  covering       e  Jol  air  t  "I  "t"  ''^  '"^'"'  '^''^^^'  "'  "^  -»'-> 
the  yonn,  fish,  does  not  fall       s lonl?;      ''    'T  ''  '"'  '"'""'^'  ^''"««'-  ^^ 
part  of  it  is  ,o.t.     On  the  contra        t  is  ;:VZ  ^  7'"''''  ^"  ^-' '  '"«'  - 
fins  ,  the  upper  fringe  growing  in^  1  dorsa    and  t  ^     "  '''"  '"  '"  '''"•  *"« 

Shell  fonning  the  caudal  fin.  or  tail  of  the     sh      Par/Jftrhlr  ''  '''  ''"'''' 
envelope  the  umbilical  bladder  or  .ao  „f  „r       Vl  "  """'*  "^  """"^ 

trout  draws  its  sustenance  for  t  e  firr.  Lh tf"         "  ''''"'  '''''  ^°""«  «^  '"^ 
the  sac  as  well  as  the  nutriment       clT  ^"'^nce,  and  it  may  be  that 

young  fish.  ""'  '*  """"'■"^  "  ■"^^o'bed  in  the  growth  of  the 


1 

! 

i 


; 


682 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S    BOOK. 


being  chopped  upon  a  block  by  the  side  of  the  pond,  they  gather  in  dense 
groups,  apparently  eager  and,  if  they  wore  not  mutes,  even  clamorous  for 
the  expecttd  treat.  And  so  tame  and  familiar  do  they  become,  that  they 
will  feed  from  the  hand  thrust  into  the  water  and  oflFering  them  food.  At 
the  end  of  the  second  year,  being  too  small  to  prey  upon  their  fellows,  and 
too  big  to  be  preyed  upon,  they  are  transferred  to  the  deeper  water  of  the 
third  pond,  to  disport  and  enjoy  themselves  as  becomes  mature  and  expe- 
rienced fishes,  until,  at  some  unhappy  moment,  they  may  happen  to  be 
Billy  enough  to  be  seduced  by  the  allurements  of  some  attractive  fly, 
attached  to  a  cruel  hook  of  steel  cast  by  some  cunning  angler  standing  on 
the  wall ;  thus  affording  sport  and  delicious  food  for  man. 

Stocking  the  Ponds,  and  Results. — The  first  and  second  ponds  were  com- 
pleted early  in  the  fall  of  1863,  and  about  2500  young  fish,  some  of  them 
yearlings,  and  the  rest  small  fry,   were  obtained  from  a  neighboring 
establishment  to  breed  from.    The  small  fry  have  grown  to  be  from  4  to 
8  inches  long  and  the  others  from  9  to  13.     They  have  been  invariably 
healthy,  and  probably  not  twenty-five  of  them  all  have  been  lost  by  dis- 
ease and  accident.    Their  spawning  season  commenced  late  in  October 
and  continued  until  the  last  days  of  December.    The  period  of  incubation, 
which  has  been  nearly  uniform  with  each  batch  of  eggs,  has  been,  as 
nearly  as  can  be  ascertained,  from  sixty-five  to  seventy  days.   The  number 
of  eggs  obtainable  from  a  single  female  depends  upon  her  size :  it  has 
been  impracticable,  in  the  experience  had  with  these  ponds,  to  test  the 
question,  because  it  has  been  ascertained  that  during  the  spawning  season 
the  females,  as  well  as  the  males,  present  themselves  to  the  operator  seve- 
ral times.    The  subjects  of  these  experiments  were  all  young  and  only 
partly  grown,  and  not  more  than  one-fourth  of  them  were  fcmako,  and  yet 
the  small  fry  which  they  have  yielded,  that  have  survived  all  the  accidents 
of  manipulation  and  incubation,  will  number  more  than  10,000.    With 
these  facts  in  view,  and  considering  the  exceeding  fecundity  of  the  full- 
grown  fish,  and  bearing  in  mind  that  the  Trout,  when  fit  for  the  pan,  will 
bring  50  cents  per  pound  in  market,  it  is  easy  to  conclude  that  piscicul- 
ture may  be  made  not  merely  a  practicable  and  pleasant  business,  at 
places  and  with  erections  affording  the  right  conditions,  but,  above  all 
other  rural  pursuits,   an  exceedingly  profitable  one.    At  any  rate,  the 
experiment  here  tried  has  been  a  complete  success. 


l^ISH    BREEDING. 


688 


On  reading  the  foregoing  contribution  in  manusorinf    T   ,         . 
tho  peculiar  manner  of  the  fecundation  of  th«  T      """'^ 

it«  author  a  .natter  of  «o  .uch  inte  Z  ^  rZ  """°'  '^ 
-«'er.  who  is  a  .icroscopis,  with  a  v^  /eH  "  •  '  ''  '  '''''''' 
on  the  phenomenon  in  refer  „ce  to  UK  '"""  ""'"''' 

^iolog.     Hi«  ohservation.  andldir:;:!  r^lr^  «^ 
•o  rea.onah.e,  that  I  append  them,  with  his  1:1;:;:;^^  "' 
My  dear  Nestor, 

«'  f— n. ««.  ..,«z  iir::;r "" """  "■• "--' 

Ih.  end  of  Lew.    B„.  LU.^:     '      ^  °"  °'°""'™'  P»'  '"'"'  "bout 

i«. ...  ...»..„  .:::;r f;;; :.:: ::;:"  77^^ — 

small  orifice  or  hole."  into  which  ^f    'P'"'  "'  ""''^  '^'  "^'^  "f  a  glans.  a 
in  the  nominal  fluid  of    Un^lX^^        ""'"^'^•"'"  ^^'^^  «^-^« 
^^    ''°""'*'''''*"'^  wearing  under  the  microscope  08 
animated  commas    '''«»:„••     ... 

»as,^  ^   ^     or  mc.p.ent  tadpoles  with   tales  attenuated- 
called  sperniaiozoa,  and  described  in  your  article  as  "  thr.  .        «. 
projecting  themselves  from  the  mass  of  th.-u?  "'  ^'"•"''"*« 

in  the  water;"  finally  to  fild  th  '      '"''"^  '^"'^  •^«^'"^*»''g 

-  egg.  tbroJgh  theardetrj  ^^  r^itr  b'^T ^  ^^ 

spheric  air  cent  n  d  rthLJ  V'""  ^^^™^"*  ^"^  '''  ^'^^  «f  ^^m'^ 
are  not  observed  to  chase  T  ''  "  *""*^'  *«  ^'^^-fy  hunger. 

of  the  male,  of  its  own  seLtr  1        7"^  '''^  '^"'^^'^  ^^'^  ^  '^^  ™"t 

I  w  no  doubt  that  n^ii:  ;rugMhr  t"'"''- '-' '-' 

your  friend.    The  following  query  was  s  a  tf.         "         "  "'"''^'  '^ 
observations  •   Is  th«  «.„  "  ""^  "'"'^  "«»  ^^ading  his 

-«.  «.i=.  a^d^ii'^rXerr.  °: "-  •-■»*-  "^"  ^ 

tn  powers  and  instruments  to  attract,  urrest, 


t  1 


I 


If 


e84 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


and  appropriate  the  lifo-bearing  atom  from  the  impregnated  watertt 
Some  silly  soul  assortH  that  a  fool  can  ank  questionH  in  an  hour,  which  a 
wise  man  could  not  answer  in  a  lifetime.  Leaving  the  reader  to  clansify 
the  asker  of  the  above  question  as  is  most  conducive  to  his  individual 
comfort,  I  meon  to  play  the  wise  man  in  attempting  an  answer  to  the 
query. 

When  the  season  and  leisure  suit— following  the  example  of  Simon  Peter 
of  blessed  memory—"  I  go  a-flshing ;"  but  with  the  ripening  of  the  grape, 
and  the  fall  of  the  loaf,  the  old  rod  is  hung  in  the  closet,  and  the  fly-lx)ok 
placed  beyond  the  reach  of  "  thieves  to  steal"  or  "  moths  to  corrupt." 
Then  Trouts  and  brookf-  vnd  the  solemn  woods,  become  pleasant  memories 
whereon  to  hang  hopes  of  a  "  right  serious  fish"  in  the  coming  springtime. 
The  groat  waters  being  closed,  1  then  fish  on  the  stage  of  the  microscope, 
and  in  a  single  drop  of  water  contemplate  the  unbounded  resources  of 
creative  power. 

In  a  lake  formed  by  a  fraction  of  a  drop  of  water  placed  on  a  slip  of 
polished  glass,  and  covered  by  a  film  of  mica  (to  prevent  Immediate  evar 
poration),  we  luay  observe  phenomena  to  aid  in  answering  our  query. 

In  the  water  contained  between  these  two  surfaces,  is  verge  and 
Bcope  for  a  myriad  brood  to  act  out  their  brief  play  of  love  and  hate.  If 
your  glass  be  good  you  may  observe  them  to  toy  and  play,  to  pursue  and 
prey  on  each  other,  as  humonly  as  their  brother  worms  in  tailed  coats  and 
epaulets. 

Now,  it  is  no  longer  the  simplicity  of  these  atoms  of  animated  jelly  that 
surprises  us,  but  the  complication  of  their  organization,  which  is  wholly 
microscopic.  And  we  need  not  long  for  the  \  ariety  of  the  u  juntain  lake 
or  river  side,  as  we  gaze  into  this  new  worM  of  being.  For  here  wc  per- 
ceive moving  bodies  of  varied  and  beautiful  form,  many  presenting  i-xam- 
ples  of  perfect  harmony  and  proportion,  and  all  richly  endowed  with  the 
organs  and  faculties  of  animal  life,  and  provided  witli  all  that  can  be 
needed  for  their  happy  existence.  In  size  those  vary  from  a  thousandth  to 
the  twenty-thousandth  part  of  an  inch.  They  move  acrosH  the  stage,  some 
gliding  and  slow,  some  with  a  velocity  proportionately  transcending 
man'ij  powers  of  locomotion  even  on  the  rail  car.  Mark  this  Uvella,  at 
least  the  three-thousandth  part  of  an  inch  in  bulk ;  with  twelve  stomachs, 
each  rendered  visible  by  some  score  of  green  monads  c  atained  therein; 
with  double  proboscides,  thrashing  th.^  water  to  scare  up  of  r  prey  to  fill 
some  stomach  it  may  possess,  other  than  the  twelve  alreadx  tiscovered. 
Imagine  one  of  these  animnl«,  nf  which  a  cubic  inch  would  contain 
iwenty-seven  thousand  miflit  as,  and  listen  to  that  waggish  old  micro- 


»ISn    BREBDINO. 


W.  will  .wTh  '^'"      "  ""  '■■"'""  °'  "■»  !"•""".«.... 

".ci  .0  produce  c„„en,.  i„  .hoT.       L  .  '    ''"""'  '"'  ""  "'"  "»" 
their  m„h  p.„i„|e,  „f  ^i„„     '"'J';  •»'  ""'  P"P<«>-  "f  w«ftin«  wi.hin 

«Hu.«r»,i„,„,„..„c  :f  :jrr. "  rr  °"  ""■"'  •'"'  -^■'■'^ 

'."..rl.. :  ■•  The  di,f„.Ui„„  „fT.3  ',      ""' "' '""■    ^'"'<-"''> 

"I  .h.ir  .ppc^ie  „,,„  L  i  :::  t"'"' °f  °'''"'°  '"""'°"'" 
-»bi„c,  .„  .„„.,,a  ,h..t,  :„nx  1h,  ,  r™  ;r:- "'"'' 

B0.«  form.  ,„bi«cte  fo,  Ih,  e„roi„  of  .h,  ■       '    '        '°"'  '"•™  '»«'' 

fewwliioh  c»„  ,,„lfc,  „„„  „^  .  . «'»«"•<»,■  indeed  there  are 

"  «  »ld  .0  .he  re.pi,2'!":j  r"'"";"f"»"».t"'-'  '""""J 
oWved  in  the  gill,  „f  .beojf      ,  7       '°''"""''"'  "^  ■»»'«.  ™ 

powerful  eurren",  whlh  bT  ""  ?■""■  """"  ""^  "-  ^  P-o^ue, 
i».»ov.ble  .„i  J.  „t  ?.  ™".  ""'"'  '"  '""'■■^  *•  -d.  of  .b. 
»b.  life  of  the  .ni„,.|  „  „  „    ,"'"'  ""''""'  •»«■ '»  <'=P«nd  in.m«ii.,e|j  „„ 

^  .be,  h„.  been'  Z:!2!'Z:TZ  "  ""'  *°"'''  '■"'  '■°» 
become  more  sluggish.     The  flni>h.r  T      '  ^'*®"  their  movements 

fringed  with  .ibratile  „!„„  J^^l^  7°"'  °"'"  "'""•.  "e  .,„ 
-».  .in.e  .fter  .be  de..h  oV  .h  1 1^  t"    '  "T''  '"  '""■'  ■"*■' 

Preeedin,  „.ie,e  »„  ,.h  breed.u.Tb  ™'"  "  """''"^  '"  ">« 

«on.d,  i„  .be  f„„ , .  fri.:T;z ,  ,rr  r-t  - 

<-'"»,  wuji  power  to  create 


686 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


It' 


i^^' 


currents  in  the  water,  for  a  period  of  time  after  separation  from  the  living 
organism  of  the  mother,  even  as  the  cilia  of  the  epithelium  cells  from  a 
living  animal  does  continue  to  vibrate  after  being  detached ;  and  by  this 
power  briqg  within  their  range  the  spermatozoa  necessary  to  the  focundar 
tion  of  the  egg,  and  that  it  may  embrace  and  absorb  the  vitalizing  ani- 
malcula.  Remembering  that  Nature  in  her  operations  trusts  nothing  to 
chance,  but  proceeds  by  harmonious  means  until  the  end  is  accomplished, 
may  we  not  infer  that  the  egg  of  the  beautiful  Trout  (as  well  as  other  fish) 
is  as  well  provided  to  insure  its  vitality  and  fecundation,  as  is  the  sluggish 
oyster  to  maintain  its  existence  7  Both  being  alike  immovable,  may  it  not 
be  by  some  like  arrangement  of  parts,  to  acit  on  a  like  element,  that  the 
egg  can  attract  the  filament  wiihin  its  reach,  and  is  not  abandoned  to  the 
chances  of  accidental  impregnation  by  the  milt  of  the  male,  discharged 
at  random,  and  liable  to  be  swept  by  the  currents  of  the  stream  beyond 
the  reach  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  eggs,  were  they  simply  passive 
recipients  of  the  fecundating  element  ? 

Your  vriend  has  observed  an  air-vessel  in  the  egg,  to  float  the  orifice  or 
mouth  upwards  towards  the  current,  and  I,  reasoning  from  the  foregoing 
observations,  suppose  that  mouth  provided  with  appendagas  observed  in  the 
very  lowest  order  of  animal  life,  and  present  likewise  in  the  very  highest, 
and  a  vitality  in  the  egg,  or  its  epithelium,  cells,  to  cause  currents  in  the 
surrounding  waters,  that  it  may  be  enabled  to  perfect  its  existence  by^ 
seizing  upon,  and  appropriating,  "  the  threads  or  filaments  projected  from 
the  milt  of  the  male,  and  brought  within  its  reach  by  the  currents  described. 
And  as  the  acorn  is  provided  with  all  necessary  elements  to  become  a  great 
oak,  even  so  may  this  little  germ  contain  all  powers  necessary  to  become  a 
great  Trout,  to  glad  the  heart  of  some  honest  angler,  who  dare  trust  in  the 
Providence  that  careth  for  the  egg  of  the  Trout  or  for  the  least  of  the 
infusoria,  as  for  the  greatest  of  earth's  worthies.  W.  M.  D. 


In  connection  with  this  subject,  it  is  appropriate  to  remark  that  I 
have  lately  witnessed  one  of  the  beneficial  effects  of  fish-breeding 
in  its  bearing  on  the  stocking  of  Trout  ponds  on  Long  Island,  and 
offer  some  suggestions  as  to  the  profit  that  might  be  made  to  accrue 
to  the  pisciculturer,  although  he  may  not  be  profound  in  his  know- 
ledge of  the  science. 

It  is  well  known  that  many  merchants  and  professional  men  of 


FISH    BREEDINO. 


687 


who  kave  visited  the  i,k„d  .  T  "■""" '•""■  I'""'™' 
ob.e,v.d  .he  fa,„e„„v  th.'  T  "  ""  '•"™^'  "-  «•«> 
i=.o  South  B.,.  'mITo  U      r  ^^  '"'  """"^  ''™'"-  '--»« 

a«  been  e.,ed  .„d  Te     .l:;t„~''-    f «  ""t"  ^^ 
•uoh  ewy  distance  of  the  ™«,        i-  '"''  '"""S'"  »"«■■ 

-  .bei  ,„„de  :::;itr  rh^tr:  n  ^:r  ^ 

naj-  be  made  to  afford  in  T„„,  b  .     """J"  "«  «P««  "Hob  they 

natural  faeiiitie.  w.r^n    it  r.      K   "''         "  °""  ^"^''  '"'™ 
C8  warrant  it,  have  been  established      TU^.      • 

•tanee.  have  created  a  demand  for  young  T„u  for  .  T"""""" 
wate.  or  replenishing  those  wher.  i^-fid:;  e  „^„;:t?  "" 
P«a»h,„s  ha,  diminished  the  n„„,ber  ofVh  •"■"^''-g,  or 

A  gentleman,  whose  hospitality  I  enjoyed  at  his  «.k-       ,  . 
Loog  Island  in  the  early  part  of  Anrilfu.  *  '°''«°  ™ 

facts  relating  ,„  ponds     HTf"™"*  "" '■'""■°'«™»«»« 

.-  ago  jh  mriu  ;t::r  i'" ""-  **'"  "° 
p-rn.e;n\i:::z:;;-r:;-^^^^ 

-  -  0'  t/ree  n.is  1  ^ITIT  Hr  r:"'""  "^^ 
one-sixth  for  accidents  th^\r  .    ^  Allowing  a  loss  of 

«* ,.  these,  when  a  ytlr  „H  ^f  T"  ''  "°  "■""'"""  ^"""^ 

Hundred,  are  worth  IZ^L      ITZ'''  '[  *"'  '°""  ^' 

for  a  farmer,  who  ha.  the  faeilil  "„  IZ     '^       "'  ^^  ''  '' 

cheap  8sh  hiding  e-Wishmen    I  d  hu  'aLT'",'  '"  T"'"""'  ' 

The  angler  above  alluded   ,o  „„',"'''""e»l^">  hi.  incomer 

that  his  guests  may  not  be  stinted  in  Ibl"  '  1"  ilf "'""  '""'• 

certain  pond,  are  known  for  the  uniform  1,         '  "°°  """ 

reared  in  them  while  other,  .       '    '«'  "^  "'  *»  Trout 

""cui,  wnue  others  are  remarkablp  fn-  *u         /. 

and  snys  that  the  small  fry  placed  Tnt;  'T'' ^"^"  «^-' 

y  placed  in  his  own  pond  attained  to  the 


688 


AMERICAN    ANGLER'S   BOOK. 


average  size  of  a  balf-pound  in  a  year.  At  present  (twelve  months 
later)  their  usual  size  is  not  much  less  than  a  pound ;  many  even 
exceed  that  weight  by  two  or  three  ounces.  He  very  naturally  sup- 
poses that  the  small  fish  keep  in  the  shallow  water  at  the  head  of  the 
pond  or  the  rivulet  supplying  it.  I  noticed  in  angling  that  this  was 
the  case;  and  when  the  size  was  not  satisfactory  we  would  move 
our  cast  nearer  the  breast  of  the  dam,  where  the  water  was  of 
greater  depth.  I  think  I  may  safely  say,  that  our  catch  of  seventy- 
eight  fish  in  the  two  ponds  alluded  to  would  have  weighed  seventy 
pounds — also  that  the  growth  of  these  fish  was  a  third  more  rapid 
than  they  would  have  been  in  a  brisk  mountain  stream. 


STOCKING  PONDS  AND  LAKELETS  WITH  BLACK  BASS. 

In  my  remarks  on  stocking  ponds,  in  the  article  on  fish  breeding, 
on  page  461,  I  have  mentioned  the  fact  that  the  Southern  Basa 
{.Grystes  salmoiJes)  was  transferred  from  the  James  River  in  the 
vicinity  of  Richmond,  and  placed  in  mill-ponds  near  Warrcnton,  a 
hundred  miles  distant.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the  gentle- 
man who  contributes  the  subjoined  observations  has  had  the  enter- 
prise to  introduce  its  congener,  the  Black  Bass  of  the  Lakes  (  Gryttet 
nigricans),  into  the  lakelets  around  West  Point.  It  is  also  strange 
that  the  State  of  New  York,  when  the  European  Carp  was  intro- 
duced into  its  waters,  should  have  endeavored  to  protect  it  by  legal 
enactment,  when  this  '•  native,"  which  furnishes  an  infinite  deal 
of  sport,  while  the  Carp  gives  none,  and  whose  flesh  is  so  much 
superior  to  any  fish  of  the  Carp  family,  should  have  been  left  to  take 
care  of  itself  The  following  article  will  show  that  our  native  should 
be  encouraged  to  emigrate,  and  that,  having  established  a  pre-emp- 
tionary  right  to  its  new  home,  all  it  requires  is  "  to  be  let  alone;" 
and  that  in  a  few  years  it  will  furnish  sport  which  is  not  inferior  to 
Trout  fly-fishing  on  the  lakes  of  Hamilton  and  Franklin  counties  in 
the  same  state  ;  besides  giving  people  adjacent  to  its  adopted  waters 
a  food,  the  excellence  of  which  is  not  surpassed  by  any  of  the  Perch 
family. 


FISH   BREEDING. 


689 


Thadbecs  NoRHis.  Esq.  WESTPomT,J^r,nO,.1865. 

Sir :  The  writer  of  these  lines  having  perused  »  Tho  A       ■        . 

Book"  with  much  satisfaction  and  it  haviri  "'"°  ^''^^'''' 

son  were  about  to  issue  a  new  edl  he  '  '"°.""™^*^'^  ^  ^^  *««* 
of  the  successful  introduction  ofleBia^k  T  ""'"''  *'''*  "™^  ^''"«"'^* 
the  Highlands,  while  not  ZToJ^^LTL^  '''''T''  '''''  '° 
might  induce  others    havin.,  .u  generality  of  readers, 

.tail.  „„„e,  C.Xr  air^t  "  7  "'^°"°"°''  °^  " 
mult  obtained.  '"""'*  "^  "■«  ""iw  <.)«^™nrf.- and  tie 

<le«e™i.„d  to  „ako  .he  e  pZe«  h.  ""'°'"°"''  ""'=  ""'"^ 

aTo^  the  „o.t  ZX:^ZT  C  7"  '''"'  '»  '"-^^  •■>- 

.-e  .o.,„„  or  ,..  heteC  sr::tl:2  rni  ^"'  " 

-:rr4t.:::o?r;vrr°"''''-^^^^^^^^ 

-peHoooea  Ihe^a^r.';  Ba.  it  ^r^T'  """  ""  °'^  '"' 
West  Poio.  durio,  the  .o^io^aair  T  eZ  T  '"^  T""'"  " 
tBh.  transportation    and  in.idl.  ,  ™'  P™'  "^"^  ™'"  »f 

rate  oon.pLatio„  C  t  1 1  "'T'  ""  '°"'  """"'  »  °'°^- 
the  lake  to  the  near^  ™t«  rj'uT'T  ""'  '™'^°"""°"  '"» 
^"Hngthe  .r.n.it,  and  likew™  tie  l  u  ^TT'  ""  °'  '^"  " 
of  tte  great  amount  of  «.hi„g  on  the  ZI  .  "'  '"  ""«1""« 
ply  re,„lr„,  f„  Moon.  fa.hrab,„  re",  '"""'°"'  «"«  ""  •">- 

ba^Jrl'^l-eZalrr;-'  «"  -i.«n,  over  .  ponnd  and  a     , 
b.d  the.  in  charge,  and  beilg  Ir'  „    l^:^":";:''"*^ '-^-e. 

. "...  and,  in  ,L  ^ r^Zt  7  f' tr  r Th""  '-""■'  ^» 

.tranger,  were  on  their  „j  I  w„„.  .  1    °  ■  ""'™''  "" 

-ef*ofea.,..ereL„g,;r'::rr;reh::!rp:z: 


-1 


WUPP'J 


■^ 


»l»'HV? 


??W!fl 


r*^^ 


690 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S  BOOK. 


splashing  over  the  rough  .nountain-roads ;  the  water  was  renewed  thee 
thnes  during  the  journey;  r  .d.  the  start  having  been  n,ade  at  2  p^h    the 
lake  was  reached  at  dusk.    The  wagon  being  backed  towards  th    lake,   h 
fish  were  handed  over  in  a  bucket,  and  gently  deposited  by  he  wr.te 
:  the    clear    limpid  water,  on   a  rocky  shore.     The    "-trabands 
did  not.  at  first,  seem  to  appreciate  the  recovery  of  the.  freedom,  bu 
remained  huddled  together  in  a  narrow  space,  and  ^n  a  state  of  apparent 
stupefaction,  their  fins   slightly  quivering.    The  last  Bass  having  b.ea 
safely  deposited,  Peter  now  jumped  from  the  wagon,  and.  as  a  man 
accustomed  to  every  phase  of  similar-expeditions,  said  quiet  y.  <'  Now.  sir. 
touch  them  one  after  another  with  a  stick."     No  sooner  said  than  done- 
when  it  was  really  delightful  to  see  each  individual,  upon  a  shght  touch 
of  the  wand,  dart  off  into  deep  water  with  that  rush  peculiar  to  the  noble 
Bass     The  last  fish  was  touched,  and  all  having  now  gladly  sought  the 
depths  of  the  lake,  the  writer  wended  his  way  home  with  a  teeling 
of  immense  satisfaction. 

During  the  ensuing  summer,  in  the  month  of  August  1860,  the  writer 
pitched  his  tent  on  the  banks  of  Wood  Lake,  and  began  a  minute  search 
for  signs  of  young  Bass.    None,  however,  gladdened  his  eye;  and  after 
more  than  a  week  or  so.  a  sense  of  disappointment  was  fast  stealing  over 
his  mind,  when  one  day  a  neighboring  farmer  paid  him  a  visit  with  his 
two  urchins,  begging  they  might  be  indulged  with  a  couple  of  small  bait- 
hooks  for  the  purpose  of  taking  a  few  Sunfish  with  worms.     They  were 
speedily  accommodated,  but  had  not  been  gone  long  before  they  returned 
shouting  "  Daddy,  we've  cotched  two  of  the  queerest  fish  you  ever  see  I- 
they  ain't  Sunfish,  they  ain't  Catfish,  and  they  ain't  Yaller  Perch  and  we 
dunno  what  they  be!"     Hereupon  a  highly  interested  individual  sprang 
from  out  his  tent,  when  lo!  he  identified  two  young  Bass,  each  three  and 
a  half  inches  long  and  an  inch  wide.    This  was  the  result  of  the  farst 
spawning,  probably  in  February  or  March;   and  the  age  consequently 
between  five  and  six  months.     All  doubt  was  now  at  an  end,  the  problem 
was  solved,  and  the  success  a  triumphant  one.    By  the  way,  the  young 
Bass  from  one  to  two  inches  in  length  is  easily  distinguishable  1  y  a  spot 
of  dingy  white  upon  each  side  near  the  tail.    When  of  larger  growth,  this 

snot  disappears. 

Wood  Lake  is  now  well  stocked,  and  having,  within  the  last  two  years, 
become  private  property,  is  entirely  protected  from  all  manner  of  intrusion 
and  poaching.  The  circumstance  of  the  new  species  not  taking  a  bait 
through  the  ice  is  an  additional  protection.    The  Bass  now  take  the  spoon 


^^S^P^Vyn'^''?*  ***'"*?**P'' 


PISH    BREEDINQ. 


691 


stock.  ^         ^     ^" '  *^"  ^'^  ^"^  undoubtedly  one  of  the  original 

-X'o^::::::Tor;  7  ^^r  ^^  -^----^  -  •--«  in 

smallest  fry      The  fish       ""'TI      ""  *''  '"«^^*  '^^  ^'^^  *^«-  tothe 

to  the  eye  of  an  angler  a  highly  satisfactor/^er'  ^  '""°""^ 

Cl^orrjnlatr  "''W-  '-'-'  *^^  -^*-  ^-  adopted 
-ef  these  he^te  t^  ri"  '^^«^^"- ^^^^  the  .iddLg 
vicinity.  The  Leq  ^  ^^  t  t':::"  "'f "'  ^^  '''''  ''^'^  ^"  ^^^ 
Btocked:  from  these  others"  HI  he  7  '"  ,'  "'  '"'"  '^'^^  '^^^  °«- 
why  the  numerous  ake  ts  1  T  f  7'"'''  ''^^  ^''^^^  ^«  "«  — 
eourseof  afe.years;t::d!rrkB^^^^^^^^  ^^  '^  *^^ 

to  -e  .elusion  of  the  .,,  Piekerel  an^  th!  l^^rtr  ''' 

Hoping  that  the  above  sketch  of  a  successful  e,n   !,'''''• 
of  some  interest  to  the  readers  of  the  f.T         '"P""'"^"*  ^^y  P'ove 
rican  Angler's  Book."  I  remat  '""^  '''*''"  ''  "''''  ''"^'■ 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

H.  R.  Aqnel. 


If 


M 


"  H. 


I  I 


692 


AMERICAN   ANGLER'S   BOOK, 


L 


CONCLUSION. 

Again  I  bring  my  task  to  a  close,  not  without  fear  that  some 
faults  have  crept  into  this  Supplement,  as  into  the  body  of  my  first 
edition.  If  so,  and  you  ahould  point  them  out  to  me,  dear  reader, 
in  a  spirit  of  candor  and  kindness,  I  shall  consider  myself  your 
debtor.  In  recording  pleasing  recollections  of  scenes  and  persons  1 
have  met  with  in  my  wanderings,  or  in  reciting  or  compiling  what 
has  been  imparted  to  me  by  others,  it  may  be  that  I  have  been  for- 
tunate enough  to  renev.  a  sunny  glow  of  boyhood  in  some  careworn 
heart,  or  fostered  some  germ  of  'ove  for  the  innocent,  the  simple,  the 
beautiful,  or  the  grand  in  nature,  in  a  mind  possessed  with  absorbing 
projects  of  wealth  or  ambition ;  or  implanted  such  love  in  some 
youthful  breast     If  so,  I  Have  my  reward,  and  once  more  say 

— "  Farewell  I 
Ye !  who  have  traced  the  Pilgrim  to  the  scene 
Which  is  his  last,  if  in  your  memories  dwell 
A  thought  which  once  was  his,  if  on  ye  swell 
A  single  recollection,  not  in  vain 
He  wore  his  hobnailed  shoon,  and  scallop  shell  { 
Farewell " 


»py'"-"\ty 


INDEX. 


Ablodon  grnnniens,  122. 
Adamson,  Dr.,  244. 
Address  to  Reader,  7,  601, 
Adirondacks,  547,  668.  ' 
Adshead,  J.  B.,  612,  640. 
Agassiz,  Prof.,  39. 
Agnel,  Prof.  H.  R.,  688. 
Alexandria  Bay,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  106. 
Allen,  Billy,  of  Culpepper  0.  K.,  Va.,  186, 
Alosa  preestabilis,  171. 
Anchovy,  166. 
Angler's  Sabbath,  689. 
Angler,  What  and  who  is  an  angler  ?  29. 
The  Pussy  Angler,  30. 
The  Snob  Angler,  30. 
The  Greedy  Pushing  Angler,  30. 
The  Spick  and  Span  Angler,  30. 
The  Rough  and  Ready  Angler,  30. 
I  The  Literary  Angler,  30. 

The  Pretentious  Angler,  31. 
The  Shad-roe  Fisherman,  31. 
The  English  Admiral  an  Angler,  33. 
The  True  Angler,  33. 

His  happy  memories  of  the  past 

sumiaer,  34. 
His  pleasures  on  the  stream,  34. 
The  Nervous  Angler,  581. 
The  Angler's  Retreat,  659. 
Angling,  its  harmonizing  influences,  27. 
Recollections  of,  in  boyhood,  28. 
Its  after  influences  on  manhood,  29. 
Its  social  tendencies,  29. 
An  incentive  to  the  love  and  study 
of  nature,  35. 
Anguilla  communis,  186. 
Anticosti  Island,  Salmon  Rivers  on,  615. 
Aquarium,  483. 

Most  convenient  size  and  shape  of. 

483. 
Arthur  N.  Edwards's  book  on,  483. 
Best  materials  for,  484. 


Situation,  exposure,  and  plants  for, 

•484. 
Suitable  fish  for,  485. 
Artificial  Fish-breeding,  459,  464. 

Its  discovery  by  Qehin  and  Remy, 

460. 

Previous  discovery  of,  by  Jaoobi. 

466. 
W.  H.  Fry'j  book  on,  464. 
Used  as   a  means  of  replenishing 

barren  waters,  481,  686. 
Successful  experiment  in   Niagara 

county.  New  York,  677. 
Hatching  Troughs,  461,  468,  679. 
Expressing  the  spawn,  469,  679. 
Securing  the  breeding  fish,  679. 
Treatment  of  fecundated  eggs,  476 

680.  ' 

Phenomenon  of  fecundation,  680. 

Incubation,  680. 

Sustenance,  food,  and  growth,  479 

681. 
Ponds  for  rearing  Trout,  479. 
Stocking  ponds  in  Niagara  county, 
New  York,  and  results,  682. 
On  Long  Island,  686,  687. 
Notes  on  impregnation  of  the  ova, 

by  a  microscopist,  683. 
Owen  Desh's  Trout  troughs  at  Hel- 
lertown,  Pennsylvania,  481. 
Artificial  Plies  for  Trout,  312. 

for  Salmon,  350. 
Ashby,  Turner,  683. 
Au  Sable  River,  660. 


Bacon,  C.  and  W.,  of  Boston,  612. 
Baird,  60,  165. 
Baker's  Chronicles,  129. 
Barb,  or  Kingfl.sh,  286. 
"  Barnwell,"  242,  271,  678. 
Basin  on  the  Nipissiguit,  246,  637,  660. 
(693) 


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wm.'fm 


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INDEX. 


Bm8.     Blauk,  of  the  Lakei,  103. 

Stocking  ponds  with,  by  Prof.  H.  R. 

Agnel,  688. 
Trolling  for,  106. 
Frosh    Wiiter,   of   the    South    and 

West,  99. 
Oswego,  110. 
Striped,  or  Rockflsh,  81. 
Striped,  of  the  Ohio,  108. 
Short  Striped,  109. 
White,  of  the  Lakes,  107. 
Sea,  300. 

Striped-Bass  fishing  at  Narragan- 
sett  Bay,  672. 
On  the  Lower  Rappahannock,  87. 
Bathurst,  390,  651. 
Bayou  Lubrauuh,  119. 
Beaver  Bro<>k.  520. 
Beaverkill,  158,  570. 
Bethune,  8,  9,  27,  31,  128,  129, 157,  3U, 

459. 
Book  of  the  Salmon,  214. 
Bosc,  59. 

Bothrolomoeus  pampanus,  298. 
Blackfish,  300. 
Blooh,  59. 

Blueflsh,  or  Snapping  Mackerel,  294. 
Brandy  wine,  159. 
Bream,  118. 

Brook  Trout,  scientific  description,  194. 
Habits  and  manner  of  breading,  195. 
Growth  of,  196, 
Difference  in  the  size  of,  196. 
Effect  of  light  and  water  on,  199. 
Errors  in  regard  to  new  species,  199. 
Food  of,  200. 
Geographic  range  of,  202. 
Large  sizes  of,  in  some  waters,  204. 
Former   abundance,  and   cause  of 
decrease  of,  202. 
Brown,  J.  J.,  86,  124,  199,  200,  271. 
Bruin,  Lake,  80. 
Brundago,  503. 
Buffalo  Fish,  156. 

Its  large  size,  166. 

Ruflnesque's  error  in  regard  to  its 

food,  155. 
Recollections   of   a   man  who  ww 
fond  of  eating  of  it,  156. 
Buffalo  Perch — not  a  Perch,  122. 

Rafinesque's  description  of,  122. 
Finding  its  way  into  Lake  Ponohar- 

train,  by  crevasse,  124. 
J.  J.  Brown's  error  oonoeming  it, 
124. 


Bugs,  518. 

Bull,  Mr.,  of  New  Orleans,  282. 

Cadwalader,  W.,  633. 

Caleb,  Dr  ,  509. 

Camping  on  the  River,  363. 

Law  and  custom  when,  374, 

Camp  equipage,  368. 

Protection  against  mosquitoes,  Ao., 

369. 
Clothing,  Ac,  371. 
Cooking  utensils,  371. 
Stores,  371. 
Cooking  Salmon,  372. 
Canadian  or  Soa  Trout,  238. 

Not  the  same  as  the  Sea  or  Salmon 

Trout  of  Europe,  238. 
Mr.  Parley's  and  Frank  Forester's 
error  in   regard   to   species   and 
habits  of,  239,  649. 
Compared  with  Brook  Trout,  240-1. 
Account  of  fishing  for,  by  Perley,  243. 
Dr.  Adamson,  244. 
The  Author,  246,  649. 
Annoyance  to  Salmon-fishers,  246. 
Capelin,  267. 

Their   great   abundance,   and    how 
taken,  267,  268. 
Cape  Vincent,  on  th"  St.  Lawrence,  106. 
Carp  Family,  153. 

Characteristics  of,  164. 
Casting  the  fly — 
For  Trout,  327. 
For  Salmon,  356. 
Catfish  and  Eels,  177. 
Catfish.      Extract     from    loonographio 
Maga7.ine,  177. 
Ejected  from  craters  of  volcanoes, 

179. 
Electric  Catfish,  179. 
Catfish    of   Atlantic    and  Western 

States,  180. 
Care  for  their  young,  182. 
Anecdote  about  Catfishing,  181. 
Catostomus  bubalus,  155. 

<<  communis,  154. 

Chamberlain,  John,  392,  646. 
Chatham,  N.  B.,  391,  651. 
Chilton,  Sam.,  reply  to  Henry  A.  Wise, 

559. 
Chippewa  Indians,  637. 
C  bitty,  349,  416. 
Chub  or  Fall  Fish,  157. 

Errors  in  regard  to  size  of,  167. 
An  annoyance  to  fly-fishers,  168. 


Uliiijtum  111  linn 


INDEX. 


695 


Cbub-6ghing  on  the  Brandywine,  169. 
Umbrella    invented    by   a  veteran 
Chubflsher,  160. 
Clark,  Billy,  158. 
Clinton  Do  Witt,  60. 
Clupeidte,  165. 
Codflsh,  reforonoe  to,  41,  44. 
CoK»well,  Squire,  113. 
Cold  Brook,  660. 
Collingwood,  Capt.,  his  fishing  in  the  St. 

John  in  1863,  617-625. 
Conclusion,  599,  692. 
Conroy,  his  distinction  between  an  angler 

and  fisherman,  557. 
Cooking  fish.     See  conclusion  of  article 

on  each  fish  described. 
Cooking  Salmon  on  the  river,  372. 
To  boil  and  broil,  372. 
Cold,  372. 
Soused,  373. 
Kippered,  373. 
Smoked,  374. 
To  bake  Grilse,  373. 
Cooking  Trout  on  the  stream,  497. 
Cooper,  Captain,  399. 
Cooper,  Dick,  banjo  player,  505,  542-3. 
Coregonus  albus,  269. 
Coregonus.     The  species   of  this  genus 
referred  to,  269. 
A   small  species  in  Saranao  Lake, 
662. 
Corvina  ocellafa,  293. 
Country  school-house,  691. 
Croaker,  291. 

Cut-off  in  the  Mississippi,  80. 
Cuvier,  66,  127. 
Cybium  maoulatum,  296. 
CyprinidBD,  remarks  on,  153. 


Dade,  Major  Jack,  of  "Virginia,  565,  657, 

668,  .559. 
Darby,  Chester,  497. 
Davy,  Sir  Humphrey,  237,  573,  578. 
Deer. — Noosing  deer,  508. 

Yarding  of  deer,  509. 

Shining  deer,  566. 
Do  Kay,  60,  91,  97. 
Detroit  River,  98. 
Diamond  River,  517. 
Dies  Piscatori^,  487. 

Introduction  to,  489. 

Houseless  Anglers,  490. 

Introductory  remarks,  491. 

Noonday  Roast,  497. 

Fint  Nooning—au  account  of  Trout- 


fishing  in  Hamilton  county,  New 
York,  503. 
Second    Nooning— a.\t     account    of 
Trout-fishing  in  New  Hampshire. 
513. 
Third    Nooning  —  an     account    of 
Trout-fishing  in  (he  region*  of 
Lake  Superior,  531. 
Fourth    Nooning— an    account    of 
Trout-fishing  in  the  Adirondaoki. 
647. 

Fly-fishing  alone,  567. 
The  Angler's  Sabbath,  589. 
Conclusion,  599. 
Dining    on    the    stream— treatment    of 

guests,  576. 
Dipsey,  73. 

Dog  «  Trent,"  anecdote  concerning,  618. 
Droppers,  or  Drop  Flies,  321. 

Knot  for  fastening  on,  409. 
Drum-Fish,  299. 
Duff,  Dr.,  journalist  of  party  to  River  St 

John,  616-25. 
Dwarf  Salmon  of  the  St.  Croix,  248. 
Dyeing  Feathers  and  Dubbing,  411. 
Dyeing  Gut,  410. 


r 


V       ^ 


Edisto  River,  Bass-Fishing  on,  100. 
Edwards,  Arthur  N.'s  book  on  the  Aqua- 

rium,  48.3. 
Eels,  observations  on,  183. 
The  Lamprey  Eel,  183. 
The  Electric  Eel,  184. 

The  power  of  its  battery,  186. 
Manner  of  capturing,  186. 
The  Common  Eel,  186. 

Upward  migration  of  its  younir. 

187. 

Used  as  bait,  187. 
Bobbing  for  Eels,  187. 
Eggs  of  Fish— see  Ova. 
Ephemera,  437. 

"  Ephemera"  (soubriquet),  212,  235. 
Ephumeridaa,  436. 
Esocida),  observations  on,  127. 
Esox  estor,  135. 
Esox  lucioides,  131. 
"  Esox  ossous,"  128. 
Esox  vittatus,  148. 

Fairmount,  on  Schuylkill  River,  94. 

Fall  Fish,  157. 

Fauna  Boreali  Americana,  59,  306,  259, 

269. 
Feathers  for  Artificial  Flies,  426,  427. 


1 

1 

I    ^1 

J 

M^^^l 

6d6 


INDEX. 


Ferguion,  John,  393. 

Fiih — Oeneral  Kumarki  on,  80. 

Doflnitiun  of,  a». 

Origin  untl  order  in  Creation,  40. 

Naturol  iiKnle  of  propagation,  41. 

Ilabit.^  M  regards  maternity,  43. 

Tlieir  fecundity,  44. 

Migratiuu8,  45,  47. 

Migiatiou  of  gurplui  production, 
46,  79,  112. 

Vitality  of,  47. 

External  organs  of,  51. 

Internal  organization,  62. 

Their  fins,  and  their  use  for  them, 
51,  57. 

Their  teeth,  and  use  of  them,  64. 

Digestion,  50. 

Organs  and  senses,  63,  54. 

Mucous  secretion  on,  and  its  use,  64. 
Fish-Breeding,  by  natural  propagation, 
459. 

In  pondd,  461-4,  679-88. 

Artificially  — see   «  Artificial    Fish- 
Breeding." 
Fishing  on  the  Prairies,  533. 
Fish  Pondi^.     Manner  of  stocking  them, 
461,  688. 

By  ova  left  in  the  soil,  48. 
Fish-roe,  41. 

Fish  Stories,  128,  129,  130,  149. 
Fiske,  Dr.  C.  K.,  629. 
Flies  for  Salmon. 

For  the  Ntpiuaiguit,  Brown  Fly,  353.' 

Nicholson,  Silver  Gray,  Chamber- 
lain, 354. 

For  G'tnadian  Rivers,  Louise,  Ed- 
win, Forsythe,  Stevens,  Ross, 
Parson,  355. 

Straohan,  Langevin,  356. 
Flies  for  Trout,  314. 

Buckles  and  Palmers — Soldier,  Red, 
314. 

Brown,  Ginger,  315. 

Griz'-ly,  Mottled,  White,  Dotterel, 
Lead  Color,  Grouse,  316. 

Winged  Flies— Greiit  Red  Spinner, 
317. 

Brown  Spinner,  March  Brown,  Cow- 
dung,  Stone  Fly,  318. 

Flies  described  by  Ronalds,  318. 

Iron-Bluo  Dun,  Grannom,  Jenny 
Spiuner,  318. 

Black  Gnat,  Yellow  Sally,  Fern  Fly, 
Alder  Fly,  Mackerel  Fly,  May 
Flies,  and  a  Fancy  Fly,  319. 


Scarlet  Ibii,  Governor,  Brown  HeOf 

Coachman,  320. 
Deer  Fly  (humbug),  437. 
Conroy's  "Journal"  Fliiv'.,  8«4,  676. 
Widow,    and    Girl    wit.i    a    Calico 
Dress,  5H2. 
Flounder,  299. 
Fly-Fishing  for  Trout.    See  "  Troat  Flv- 

Fishing." 
Fly-Making,  419. 

Implemen(    f  r — Hand-vice,  spring' 

pliers,  scissors,  Ao.,  420. 
Materials — Hooks,  gut,  tinsel,  dub' 

bing,  hackles,  wings,  423-8. 
To  make  Hack  Us,  42'.i. 
"      "      Palmers,  431. 
"      '<      A  Fly  with  wings,  4,S8. 
"      "      Tails,  435. 
Forester,  Frank,  86,  128,  167,  173,  198, 

239,  200,  322, 
Frost  Fish,  301. 
Fry,  W.  H.,  225,  464. 

Gang  of  hooks  for  troUir.,  400, 
Gar-Fish— Frank    Forester's  error  con- 
cerning, 128. 

How  taken,  128. 
Gay,  417,  423. 

George— Fly-maker,  416,  656. 
Gesner's  Pike,  129. 
Gill,  60,  120. 
Gin,  514. 
Girard,  60. 
Glenn's  Falls,  560. 
Ooodbout  River,  628. 
Goody,  Spot,  or  Pig  Fish,  283. 
Graham  (of  Bell's  Life  in  London),  214. 
Grand  Falls  on  the  Nipissiguit. 

Description  of,  and  its  pools,  396-9. 

Diary  of  sojourn  there,  637-642. 
Grayling,  Back's,  259. 

Dr.    Richardson's    account    of   itt 
game  qualities,  260. 
Great  Lake  Pickerel,  131. 
Great  Lake  Trout,  250. 

Manner  of  taking  it,  251. 
Great  Natashqnan,  description  of,  626. 
Grilse  (Young  Salmon),  229. 

The  sport  they  give,  647. 
Grouse  Canadian,  658. 
Grystes  Nigricans,  103. 
Grystes  Salmoides,  99. 
GymnotidsD,  184, 

Hackles,  425. 


INDEX. 


697 


Haldvman,  00. 

Ilaui  Mreitmun't  fiarty,  M7. 
Heudrick  iludaon,  207. 
Henry,  Jim,  677.  680. 
Hermaphrodite  V\»h,  4S. 

"  Luoomotire,  656. 

Herrings— Komurki  on  Family  of,  165. 
Migrationg  of,  167. 
Great  numlora,  and  commercial  im- 
portance of,  168. 
Great  huul  of  on  the  Potomac,  170. 
Taken  with  artificial  fly,  171. 
Hofland   .316,  582. 
Holbrook,  60,  99,  115,  118. 
Hooked  foul,  673. 
Hooki,  63. 

Kirby,  Limerick,  Weak  Trout,  63. 
O'SbauKhnesny,    Sneck    bend,  Vir- 
ginia, 64. 
Salmon  booki,  67. 
First  tomporud  by  Prince  Rupert,  67. 
To  tie  on  a  hook,  406. 
Horse  traps,  616. 

Houseless  Anglers,  account  of,  490. 
Dedication  to,  5. 

Preamble  and  Address  setting  forth 
objects  of  association,  491. 
Howitt,  William,  extract  from  big  Rural 

Life  in  England,  684. 
Humboldt,  178. 


Ichthyology,  56. 
Ichthyologists,  59,  60. 
Irish  Anecdotes,  62.3,  624. 
Iron -wood  for  rods,  442. 

Jackflsh,  130. 

Jackflshing  on  the  Rappahannock,  144 

James  River  Chub,  99. 

James  River,  100. 

Jones,  Billy,  92. 

Kingfish,  286. 
Kippered  Saliii  >n,  .373. 
Knots.     The  Angler's  Single  Knot,  408. 
"  "         Double  Knot,  408. 

The  Water    Knot,  for  fastening  on 
drop  flics,  408. 
Krider,  John,  67,  312. 

Labrax  albidus,  97. 
Labrax  chrysops,  108. 
Labrax  Lineatus,  81. 
Labrax  pallidus,  90. 
Laoepede,  59. 


I  Lake  Bruin,  Mississippi,  80. 
I  Lake  George,  106. 

Lake  Pleasant,  504. 

Lake  Punoharlrain,  108,  10». 

Lake  St.  Clair,  107. 

Lake  Umbagog,  654. 

Lttlio  Mollythunkamunk,  664. 

Leaders,  69. 

Leiostomus  obliquui,  289. 

Len,  baiter  at  Narragonsett,  676. 

Lepidosteus,  40,  128, 

Lepouts,  Louie,  638, 
Lesser  Lake  Trout,  266. 

Trolling  for,  256. 
Leurosomus  rhotheus,  167. 
Le  Val  River,  663. 
Lewi,^  Dr.  Elisha  J.,  article  Ly,  664. 
Lilly,  Mr,  Salmon-flsher,  632. 
Lines,  70,  812,  349. 
Long  Beach,  278. 
Long  Lake,  Illinois,  113. 
Long  Lake,  New  York,  668. 
Loops,  406. 
Louie  Lake,  608. 
Lucioperoa  Americana,  120. 


Msckerel,  breeding  places  unknown,  48 

Mickinaw,  424. 

Maguire,  Father  Tom,  608,  638. 

M^or,  The,  145. 

Mallotus  villosng,  267. 

Manitouline  Islands,  6.32. 

Marryatt,  CapUin,  573. 

Martin,  Bill,  Saranao  Lake,  553. 

Mascalonge,  136. 

Incorrectly  pictured  by  Cuvier,  128. 
Matlaek,  George's  boys,  113. 
Megalloway  River,  517,  660- 
Micropogon  undulatus,  291. 
Miller,  Hugh,  40,  41. 
Mingan  River,  386,  609,  612. 
Mirimichi  River,  388. 
Miskind,  Sam,  Indian,  622. 
Mississippi,  lakes  and  ponds  fed  by,  79. 
112. 
Cut  off"  in,  80,  101. 
Sauve  crevasse  in,  124. 
Mitohil,  59. 

Moisie  River,  384,  385,  609,  610,  612. 
Bacon,  and  Williams's  score  on.  In 
1862-.f,  627. 
Mollychunkumunk,  Lake,  654. 
Mosquitoes,  protection  against,  369. 
Mullet,  300. 
Murdook  Lake,  Illinois,  113. 


I 


si 


it 


f 


na 


lit; 


698 


I N  D  B  X. 


Murinidn,  18S. 

Nttrraganiett  Bay,  871. 

NatBHhuiion.     Diary  of  trip  to,  629. 

NaymaouNb,  260. 

NuMhamouy  Kiver,  allu«i   d  to,  661. 

Nettle,  20U. 

New  Brunswick,  Uiver»  of,  389. 

NloboUon,  J.  W.,  640,  842,  651. 

Nlggir  Glneral,  The,  505,  541. 

NiplsHigult  Hlver,  390. 

Diary  of  trip  to,  632,  647. 
Noonday  Koa«t,  Tiie,  497. 
Nooning?  :— 

Pirst — Tront-fl»hing    in    Hamilton 
County,  New  Yorl:,  603. 

Pooond — Trout-fldhing      in      Now 
Ilampihire,  511. 

Third— Trout-flBhing  in  the  regiun* 
of  Lake  Superior,  529. 

Fourth— Trout-fishing  in  the  Adi- 
rondack*, 645. 

Ohio  River  and  tributaries,  100. 
Ohio  Salmon,  120. 
Old  Sturgis,  607. 
Osmerus  viridesoens,  263, 

Species  found  in  the  Schuylkill,  26.3. 
Oowego  Bass,  110. 
Otolithus  regalis,  283. 
Ova  of  fish  :— 

Improvidence  concerning,  43. 
Care  for  it,  by  the  Red  Fin,  43. 
Number  found  in  the  Carp,   Pike, 

Perch,  Codfish,  and  Salmon,  44. 
Of  viviparous  fishes,  45. 
Incubation  of,  after  remaining  be- 
neath the  soil,  41,  481. 
Of  Pelagian  fish,  floating,  44. 
•  Impregnated  ova  an  article  of  com- 

merce in  Chii.a,  48,  481. 


Packard,  Bela,  390,  640. 
Pagrus  agyrops,  301. 
Perca  flavescons,  114. 
Perch  Family,  77. 

Yellow  barred,  114. 

Bufl'alo,  122. 

Fishing  for,  92. 

Chinkapin,  111. 
Pereidse,  remarks  on,  77. 

Great  numbers  of  American  species, 

77. 
Paucity  of  European  species,  78. 
Distinguishing  marks  of,  78. 


PercldsK,  migratory  habits,  19. 
PerclniB,  sub  family,  120. 
Periey,  239,  243. 
Petromyzontidw,  183. 
Philip*.  Clement  8  ,  article  by,  671. 
Pickerel,  Great  Northern,  131. 

Trolling  for,  133. 
Pickering's    Piscatorial    ReminiioenoM, 

129. 
Piconeau,  148,  156. 
Plgfisb,  289. 

Pike  Family,  remarks  on,  127. 
Pond  Pike,  138. 
Trolling  for,  139. 
Fishing  for,  in  Virginia,  148. 
Great  Blue,  147. 
Streaked,  of  the  Ohio,  148. 
Story  concerning,  149. 
Pliny's  Pike,  129. 
Qesner's  Pike,  129. 
Pike  Perch,  120. 
Pipe,  The,  its  soothing  influences,  681. 
Piseoo  Club,  603. 

Pliny,  Pike  taken  in  the  Rhine,  129. 
Pooomoka  River,  176. 
Pogonias  chromls,  299. 
Pomotis  vulgaris,  116. 
PomoxiB  bexacanthus.  111. 
Pork,  uses  of,  615. 
Potipbar's  wife,  433. 
Prince  Edward's  Island,  661. 
Push-mut-ta-ha,  his  last  words,  668. 


F 

S 
S 
S 


Rnflnesque,  59,  122. 
Rapid  River,  in  Maine,  668. 
Rappahannock  River,  87. 
Raquette  River,  561. 
Receipts— Dyeing  gut,  410. 

Feathers  and  dubbing,  411. 
Preparing  Salmon  lines  in  oil,  849, 
Redfleld,  60. 

Red  Fish  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  293. 
Reels  generally,  71. 

For  Trout-fishing,  312. 
For  Salmon-fishing,  348. 
Repairs— to  tie  on  hooks,  406. 
Loops,  407. 
To  splice  a  line,  407. 
To  splice  a  rod,  408. 
Knots,  409. 
Gang  of  hooks,  409. 
Reynolds,  Reuben,  564. 
Reynolds,  Sir  Joshua,  28. 
Richardson,  Dr.,  69,  206,  259,  269. 
Rintoul,  612,  640. 


Ba] 


*mm 


I  N  D  K  X. 


Roach  and  Roach  dshing,  101 
Rockliih,  «1. 

Rock-flihiiig  on  th«  Lower  Rappahan 
nook,  87. 

At  Narragannatt  Bay,  071, 
Rook,  Mi^or,  633. 
Rock  River,  102. 
Rod-inaking. 

Wood  and  cane  ufed  for,  443. 

Tools  uied  in,  443. 

To  make  a  fly-rod,  444. 

To  make  a  tip,  445, 

To  atain,  oil,  and  varnish,  44C 

To  wrap,  splice,  4o.,  447. 

To  make  a  rent  and  glued  tip,  448. 

To  make  a  fly. rod  adjusted  for  light 

or  heavy  fishing,  462. 
To  malie  feruloa,  462. 
Rods,  generally,  72. 

Fly-rods  for  Trout,  308. 
"        for  Salmon,  346. 
Ronalds,  53,  318. 
Rouse's  Point,  on  Lake  Champlain,  lOi. 

Sao  &  lai,  HI. 
Saguenay  Hiver,  662. 
Salmon-Fishing. 

Tackle  for,  345. 

Rods,  346. 

Reels,  348. 

Reel  lines,  349. 

To  prepare  reel  lines  in  oil,  349. 

Casting  lines,  350. 

Flies  for  rivers  of  New  Brunswick, 

353. 
Flies  for  rivers  of  Canada,  355. 
Casting  the  fly.     Theory  and  prac- 
tice, 356.- 
Compared  with  Trout-fishing,  367. 
The  straightforward  oast  described. 

338. 
Casting  in  difficult  places,  361. 
Casting  in  an  unfavorable  wind,  362. 
Striking  a  Salmon,  363. 
Playing  a  Salmon,  364. 
What  a  Salmon  may  or  will  do,  367. 
Camping  on  the  River,  368. 
Balmon-Fishing  in  Canada. 

Letter  concerning,  from  D.  A.   P 

Waft,  Esq.,  609. 
Avcage  of  fish   per  day  in  the  St. 
John,     Moisie,    Goodbout,    and 
Mingan,  610. 
Score  of  rods  on  the  same  for  year 
1863,  611. 


Extract  from  "  All  about  Fishins  " 

613.  •' 

Aooount  of  the  fishing  in  Si.  John 

for  year  18(1  ,,  615-625. 
Aooount  of  the  Ashing  in  the  Moisie 
by  Bacon  oiil  Williams  for  years 
1863,  1863,  026,  628. 
Account  of  fishing  in  the  Goodbout 
for  year  1864,  by  K.  H.  Powel, 
628.  ' 

Acouunt  of  fishing  In  the  Great  Na- 
t«.<ihquan  for  year  1884,  by  Dr  C 
K    ^■•'k<i.  629-632. 
At    iUt  01   flKhing  in  the  Nlpissl- 
3uit,  N.  1'      for  the  years   1863 
aul  1865,         lie  author,  632-650. 
Salmi  n.      Porwer     ihundance     in     the 
I'Miurl  Sif.'-„,  206. 
Grer       Liuuers   in   California,  Ore- 
gou,  and  British  PossoBf^ions,  208. 
Decline  of  Salmon  Fisheries,  209. 
Soicutiflc  description  of,  211. 
Natural  process  of  propagation,  212. 
Growth  of  the  young,  222. 
Grilse,  229. 
Mature  Salmon,  2*1. 
SIse  of.  232,  233. 
Instiuv  (  of,  233. 
Migration  of,  234. 
Leaps  of,  236. 
Food  of,  234,  236. 

Dwarf  Salmon  of  the  Si.  Croix,  248. 
Cooking  Salmon  on  the  river,  372. 
Home  of,  in  Canadian  waters,  607. 
Thackero's  error  concerning,  206. 
Hondriok  Hudson's  account  of,  207. 
Salmon  Rivers  of  Canada,  280,  608-6;(2! 
Salmon  Rivers  of  New  Brunswick,  386. 
632.  ' 

Law  and  custom  on,  374. 
SalmonidsB,  Remarks  on,  191. 
Salmo  salur,  206. 

Canadensis,  238. 
Gloveri,  248. 
Naymucush,  250. 
Adirondacus,  266. 
Fontinalis,  194. 
Salt  Watef  Fish  and  Fishing,  277,  302. 
Introductory  remarks,  277. 
The  Sheepshead,  279. 
The  Weakflsh,  or  Salt-Water  Trout. 

283. 
The  Barb,  or  Kingflsh,  286. 
The  Spot,  Pigfish,  or  Goody,  280. 
The  Croaker,  291. 


■1 


I 


t-l 


roo 


INDEX. 


The  Redflsh,  293. 

The  Blueflsh,  294. 

The  Spanish  Mackerel,  296. 

Thq  Pompano,  or  Crevalle,  298. 

The  Drumfish,  299. 

The  Flounder,  299 

The  Sea-BasH,  300. 

The  Blnokfish,  300. 

The  Mullet,  300. 

The  Tom  Cod,  or  Frostfish,  301. 

The  Porgy,  301. 
Sand  Pipers,  586. 
Sandre,  121. 
Sargus  ovis,  279. 
Sarinac  Lakes,  548. 
Sault,  St.  Mary,  536. 
Sauve  Crevasse,  in  the  Mississippi,  124. 
Savary,  Captain,  616. 
Schoef,  59. 
Schoodic  Trout,  248. 

Fishing  for,  249. 
Scienoids,  124. 
Bcientifio  Angling,  522. 
Scientific  terms — 

Acanthopterygii,  56. 

Ctenoids,  40. 

Cycloids,  40. 

Malacopterygii,  56. 

Thoracic,  57. 

Abdominal,  57. 

Placoids,  40. 

Qanoids,  40. 
Scott,  Captain  Martin,  535. 
Scouring  earth  worms,  273. 
Sea-Bass,  300. 

Sebattis,  Mitchell  (Indian),  668. 
Sea  Trout— See  Canadian  Trout,  238. 
Bies -Trout  Ashing,  account  of — 

By  Mr.  Perley,  243. 

By  Dr.  Adarason,  244. 

By  the  Author,  649. 

Extract  from  a  letter  from  D.  A.  P. 
Watt,  Esq.,  of  Montreal,  describ- 
ing, 652. 
Shad — delicacy  as  food,  171. 

Migratory  habits,  172. 

Taken  with  a  minnow,  173. 
Sheepshead,  279. 

An  emigrant  from  the  South,  380. 
Shipley,  415. 

Shourds,  Sammy,  of  Long  Beach,  278. 
Sinkers,  68. 

Skillet — uses  for  in  the  woods,  523. 
Bmelt — great  numbers  of    on   northern 
con:  t,  265. 


In  Schuylkill  and  Raritan,  263. 

Great  quantities  sent   South  from 
Boston,  265. 

Used  as  a  fertilizer,  265. 

Observation  on  species  found  in  tb« 
Schuylkill,  by  the  author,  263. 

Cooking  Smelt,  266. 
Snapping  Mackerel,  294. 
Snoods,  68. 

Southern  Trout — not  a  trout,  284. 
Spanish  Mackerel,  296. 
Sparrowgrass,  Mr.,  489. 
Splicing  line  and  rod,  408. 
Spot,  Pigfish,  or  Goody,  289. 
Spurr,  J.  D.  W.,  630. 
St.  John,  N.  B.,  390,  651. 
St.  Margaret,  653. 
Storer,  60. 

Stores  for  camping  out,  371. 
Stretcher-fly,  321. 
Striped  Bass — See  Rockfish. 
Striped-Bass  Fishing — 

In  the  Rappahannock,  87. 

At  Naragarisett   Bay — the  "mode 
peculiar,"  671. 
Sucker,  154. 
Sunfish,  or  Sunny,  115. 
Swivels,  68. 

Tabasintao  River,  N.  B.,  242,  651. 
Tackle  in  general,  63. 
Tadousac,  6.'^  ' 

Taggard's  Hotel,  Keysville,  649. 
Ta-ha-wus,  551. 
Temnodon  Saltator,  294. 
Tent,  368. 
Thackero,  206. 

The  Stream— Casting  the  Fly,  327. 
Theory  r*'  strict  imitation,  334. 
Striking  and  killing  a  fish,  335. 
Likc'y  places,  and  how  to  fish  them, 
337. 
Thousand  Islands,  106,  107. 
Thymallus  signifer,  259. 
Tom  Cod,  301. 
Trexler,  Reuben,  591. 
Trolling  for  Pickerel,  131. 
"    Pike,  139. 
"    Muscalonge,  137. 
"    Lake  Trout,  256. 
"    Black  Bass,  105. 
'^Tout,  the  Brook,  194. 

"  Great  Lake,  250. 
"  Lesser  Lake,  255 
"    Canadian,  or  Sea  Trout,  23* 


INDEX. 


lOl 


Trout— the  Sohoodic  Trout,  248. 
Trout  Fishing  in  Hamilton  County,  New 
Yorlt,  603. 

In  New  Hampshire,  513. 

In  the  regions  of  Lalie  Superior,  531. 

In  the  Adirondacks,  547. 

In  Oxford  County,  Maine,  654. 

In  Rapid  River,  MMne,  656. 

With  bait,  272. 
Trout  Fly-Fshing— Outfit  and  Tackle. 

Wudiog  Jacket,  305. 

Trowsers,  305. 

Boots,  305. 

Creel,  or  Basket,  306. 

Landing  Net,  306. 

Rods,  308. 

Reels,  311. 

Lines,  312. 

Leaders,  312. 

Flies,  312. 

The  Whip,  321. 
Tupper's  Lake,  561. 
Tyeing  on  hooks,  406. 

Umbagog  Lake,  654. 
Umbriua  nebulosa,  286. 
Uncle  Gable,  505,  642. 


Uncle  lokey  Price,  514,  547. 
Uncle  Lot,  544. 

Uncle  Peter  Stewart,  158,  497,  579. 
Uncle  Roily,  89. 

Walton,  Isaac,  11,  26,  27,  62,  76. 

His  discourse  on  thankfulness,  592. 
Wax,  415. 

Waxing  silk  and  thread,  405. 
Weakfish,  283. 
West,  Sir  Benjamin,  528, 
Whip,  The,  321. 
Whitcher,  W.  F.,  607. 
Whitefish,  variety  of  species,  269. 

Their  value  as  food,  270. 

How  taken,  270. 

Habits — not  a  game  fit  <,  271. 
Whittaker  Lake,  508. 
Williams,  of  Boston,  612. 
Wilson,  Philip,  147,  416,  632. 
Wolf  River,  281. 
Wood,  69. 

Yarrell,  54. 

Yates,  D.  Gordon,  9. 

Young,  of  Invershin,  Scotland,  214,  219. 


THE    END. 


ii 


